Holding equipment for optical fiber

ABSTRACT

In the conventional process of the handling of the relatively short optical fiber, the optical fiber is wound into a coreless loop and is tied up by using spiral tubes or is fixed by adhesive tape, to attach ferule to the terminal of the fiber, to form antireflective layer, to deliver. However, due to hardness and weakness against bending, the optical fiber have to be corrected the holding according to work respectively, in addition, there are problem such that the optical fiber is unwound and snapped. The present invention solved such problem by providing compact holding equipment for optical fiber comprising at least one optical fiber holding area which comprises core of reel, side walls connected with the core of reel and elastic projections formed on at least one of the side wall, made of, for example, fluororubber.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to holding equipment for optical fiber tohold relatively short length optical fiber (hereinafter, to also simplybe referred to as fiber) having length less than several tens meters,for example, such as 2 m or 5 m.

BACKGROUND ART

In an optical communication field, relatively short length optical fiberhaving length less than several tens meters, for example such as 2 m or5 m, is used in addition to long optical fiber being used for opticalcommunication path. Such short length optical fiber is used withcollimator for a device such as isolator, WDM and so on, that isattached to the end portion of the fiber.

It is needed for such optical fiber in its manufacturing process thatmany kinds of processing, for example, such as attaching collimator tothe terminal of the fiber, attaching ferule to the terminal of thefiber, polishing of the terminal surface of the fiber, formingantireflective layer on the terminal surface of the fiber in a vaporizeddeposition system, have to be done after cutting the fiber to length of,for example, 2 m or 3 m.

In the conventional process, the handling of the optical fiber in theabove-mentioned process or delivery is performed in such way in whichthe optical fiber is wound into a coreless loop and is tied up by usingspiral tubes or is fixed by adhesive tape, and then, in a case whereincollimator or ferule is attached to the terminal of the fiber, or in acase wherein the terminal surface of the fiber is polished and so forth,the work is done by unwinding necessary part of the fiber which is thevicinity of the end portion of the fiber, and in a case of delivery, thecoreless-loop-styled fiber is delivered by being fixed on a smallplastic plate using vinyl tape and put it into a case. Whenantireflective layer is formed on the terminal surface of the opticalfiber using a vacuum vaporized deposition device, the temperature aroundthe fiber goes up beyond 100° C., therefore it is not favorable to usethe spiral tubes or adhesive tape, and the components which hold theoptical fiber should be removed and instead of that components forvacuum should be used to hold the optical fiber because all componentsto fix or hold the optical fiber should be components which do not gasin above-mentioned environment and do not harm to antireflective layerin its quality due to the gas.

FIG. 30 and FIG. 31 are drawings that explain the conventional handlingmethod of such short optical fiber. FIG. 31 is drawing that explains thehandling method for the optical fiber in a case wherein collimator orferule is attached to the short optical fiber or in a case wherein theterminal surface of the optical fiber is polished.

In FIG. 31, reference symbol 101 indicates a fiber wound into loophaving length of, for example, 2.2 m, reference symbol 102 indicates acollimator attached to the terminal portion of one side of optical fiber101, reference symbol 103 indicates a ferule attached to the terminalportion of the other side of optical fiber 101, reference symbols 121and 122 indicate, for example, spiral tubes to prevent optical fiber 101from untying being wound into a coreless loop.

In the conventional process, the optical fiber was wound into a loop asshown in FIG. 31, and a part of the optical fiber being necessary lengthwas drew out from the loop, then some kind of the process such as thatattaching the collimator to the optical fiber, attaching the ferule tothe optical fiber, or polishing the terminal surface of the opticalfiber are proceeded.

FIG. 30 is drawing that explains the handling method of processedoptical fiber in case of transporting or delivering. In FIG. 30,reference symbols 105˜109 indicate adhesive tape to fix optical fiber101 wound to a coreless loop having a collimator 102 attached to theterminal portion of one side of the optical fiber and a ferule 103attached to the terminal portion of the other side of the optical fiber.The completed optical fiber is transported or delivered by fixing on theplate 110 as shown in FIG. 30 and putting it into a case (not shown inthe drawing).

As was previously known, optical fiber is weak against bending,moreover, it is hard, therefore, in a case wherein the fiber wound intoa coreless loop as shown in FIG. 31 is handled, when the fiber is drewout from the loop, it is necessary to prevent snapping of the fiber dueto that diameter of the loop, especially partial diameter, becomes toosmall, and in addition, it is dangerous to draw out the fiber from theloop as being tied by the spiral tubes, consequently, it spends longfutile time for preparing process to manufacture the terminal portion ofthe fiber, for example, to draw out the fiber till necessary length ofit while the spiral tube is shifted by inches as paying attention tokeep the loop having the required shape, furthermore, it brings increaseof additional implements and processes for manufacturing the fiber,thus, the conventional process has problem that cost of manufacturinggoes up.

Furthermore, in the process of the terminal portion of the fiber, yieldof process is apt to become lower because of loosing of the loop,difficulty of drawing out the fiber to constant length, snapping of thefiber by bending stress in the process.

In order to solve such problems, a winding method to wind the opticalfiber to a reel like a spool and a winding method using a reel which hasside wall or ditch are presented, but, owing to its bad points which arenot only that the diameter of the reel must be large due to hardness ofthe fiber but also that processing time becomes long due to, forexample, the fiber wound to the reel is apt to unwind, and owing to itsbad point which is that accuracy of processing is low, they could not beused.

In order to attempt improving the accuracy of processing and reductionof cost, automated process in which fiber is cut to such short length of2 m, 3 m etc. from fiber of one bundle of 10 km wound on a reel and eachof the fibers is processed to easy to handle style is not provided atall.

And, in a case wherein antireflective layer is formed on the terminalsurface of the optical fiber, when gas come out from components whichhold the optical fiber, strength of the antireflective layer is weakenand a satisfactory antireflective layer can not be formed, consequently,components for vacuum is used. Furthermore, because in a case of theconventional holding method for the optical fiber, it can not hold theoptical fiber into stable and compact style, consequently, it isimpossible to form high quality antireflective layer having almost equalcharacteristics on the terminal surface of the fiber of a large numberof optical fibers at one time.

In case of transportation or delivery, there are also problems of alarge case and expensive cost, and at the receiver side of the deliveredfiber there are also similar problems of handling.

As was previously known, in a case of relatively short length opticalfibers being used in the optical communication having length less thanseveral tens meters such as 2 m or 5 m, there are several differenttype, for example, so-called buffered fiber having diameter of 0.25 mm,so-called core fiber having diameter of 0.9 mm, a fiber, hereinafter, tobe referred to as 2-ribbon fiber which is packaged two buffered fibersputting them side by side and covered with resin in tape state, a fiber,hereinafter, to be referred to as 4-ribbon fiber which is packaged fourbuffered fibers putting them side by side and covered with resin in tapestate, a fiber, hereinafter, to be referred to as 8-ribbon fiber whichis packaged eight buffered fibers putting them side by side and coveredwith resin in tape state, a fiber, hereinafter, to be referred to as12-ribbon fiber which is packaged twelve buffered fibers putting themside by side and covered with resin in tape state, and so on.Aforementioned each ribbon fiber is that, for example, thickness ofevery ribbon fiber is 0.3 mm, width of 4-ribbon fiber is 1˜1.1 mm, widthof 8-ribbon fiber is 2˜2.2 mm.

Aforementioned problems of holding optical fiber which is relativelyshort optical fiber having length less than several tens meters, forexample, such as 2 m or 5 m, in a case of processing or delivery, arealso big problems for each case of buffered fiber, core fiber, andribbon fiber, and, for example, in a case of ribbon fiber, that areserious problems.

In consideration of these problems, a purpose of the present inventionis to provide such holding equipment for the optical fiber that snappingor jumbling of the fiber in handling for processing dose not occur,preparing process to manufacture and manufacturing itself are easy,automated process is available, fiber is not unwound automatically whenthe fiber is held by the holding equipment having diameter less than,for example, 10 cm without aforementioned special treatment to hold thefiber cut to required length by using spiral tubes or to paste the fiberby adhesive tape and the fiber held by the holding equipment is placedon the working table, and in a case of transportation or delivery,conventional large and expensive case is not necessary, and to providesuch holding equipment for the optical fiber that it is possible to holdthe fiber in compact and it is inexpensive. In addition, another purposeof the present invention is to provide inexpensively such holdingequipment for optical fiber that, as aforementioned, handling in processand delivery is easy, and moreover, there is no problem in out-gassingwhen antireflective layer is formed on the terminal surface of theoptical fiber using a vacuum vaporized deposition device, even if thesame holding equipment is put in the vacuum vaporized deposition deviceas is.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention was performed to achieve above-mentioned purpose.

The present invention has many kind of characteristics, one of the majorcharacteristics is that the holding equipment for the optical fibercomprises at least one pair of side walls which are placed in oppositioneach other and constitute holding unit for the optical fiber, andcomprises elastic projections on at least one said side wall, and theholding equipment for the optical fiber is capable to hold many kind ofoptical fiber, given the details later, by constituting the projectionsappropriately.

Moreover, another major characteristics of the present invention is toprovide such holding equipment for optical fiber that it is compact andinexpensive holding equipment and it can be used in a vacuum vaporizeddeposition device by forming the projections using fluorocarbonelastomers for material of the projections, for example, forming thewhole holding equipment by one-piece molding technology usingfluorocarbon elastomer.

To achieve the purpose of the present invention, many kinds of modeshaving the following characteristics are available for the presentinvention. Followings are characteristics of examples of the modes ofthe present invention.

The present invention relates to holding equipment for optical fiber,and the holding equipment for optical fiber of the present invention ischaracterized by being able to put optical fiber in it and to holdoptical fiber in it, and comprising at least one holding unit foroptical fiber comprising at least one pair of side walls which areplaced in opposition each other and plural elastic projections placed onat least one said side wall.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that at least one said holding unit foroptical fiber comprises core of reel wherein optical fiber can be woundon it, said core of reel is placed by connecting with said side wall orclosing to said side wall, said projections placed on at least one saidside wall of holding unit are placed at plural locations of said sidewall that is positions, hereinafter, to be also referred to as the innerpart of side wall, namely, positions which are inner side from a fringeof the side wall of holding unit, that is, closer positions to said coreof reel on the side wall, and said projections are formed as elasticprojections which stick out from one side wall toward the opposite sidewall, and by that at least said one pair of side walls, said elasticprojections and said core of reel construct optical fiber holding areain which optical fiber can be held.

In an example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention, though, for the shape of fringe of said core of reel on whichoptical fiber can be wound, many kind of shape are available and for theshape of fringe of said core of reel, especially circular shape,ellipsoidal shape, and polygonal shape are desirable, and also, for theshape of said side wall of at least one said holding unit for opticalfiber, many kind of shape are available and for the shape of major partof at least one of said side wall, especially flat board state isdesirable, and for the shape of fringe of said side wall, especiallycircular shape, ellipsoidal shape, and polygonal shape are desirable.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that at least one said side wall, pluralprojections placed on the wall and core of reel connected to the wallare formed into one-piece.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that plural of said projections have suchshape that the shape is shape, hereinafter, to be referred to as slendershape, for example, shape like a pole, flat shape, and have such measurethat length of the projection sticking out from the side wall on whichthe projection is formed is longer than the maximum measure of crosssection of the projection, defining the cross section of the projectionis that crossing at right angles to the center line of length directionof the projection and the measure of the cross section is measured as astraight line from one end to the opposite end through the center of thecross section.

An example of holding equipment having said slender shape projectionsfor optical fiber of the present invention is characterized by that eachof plural of said elastic projections is formed slanted such that alength directional mean central axis of said projection which is aimaginary axis, hereinafter, to be referred to as a length directionalcenter line, slants toward inner side of the optical fiber holding areaas making required angle θ1 with the perpendicular line of said sidewall at the place, and especially it is desirable that all theprojections formed for at least one said holding unit are formed slantedsuch that each length directional center line slants toward inner sideof the optical fiber holding area as making required angle θ1 to theperpendicular line of said side wall at the place. And when the angle θ1is smaller than 10 degree, an example of holding equipment for opticalfiber of the present invention shows noticeable effect.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said projection which is placed onthe side wall of at least one holding unit is formed slanted such that alength directional center line slants toward one direction along thefringe of the side wall as making required angle θ3, and especially itis desirable that all the projections formed on the side wall of atleast one holding unit are formed slanted such that each lengthdirectional center line of it slants toward one direction along thefringe of the side wall as making required angle θ3. When said requiredangle θ3 is smaller than 10 degree, an example of holding equipment foroptical fiber of the present invention shows noticeable effect.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that each of said plural projections isthat outside tangent of outline of the projection of radius direction ofthe side wall on which the projection is placed and inside tangent ofoutline of the projection of radius direction of the side wall crossesas making required angle θ2 on the cross section which include thecenter point of the side wall on which the projection is placed, thecenter point of the root of the projection and the end point of thecenter line of the projection, except parts having large alteration forexample root around and the end point around of the projection, and theprojection is dwindling from root of it to the end point of it, andespecially it is desirable that each of all the projections of at leastone said holding unit is that outside tangent of outline of theprojection of radius direction of the side wall on which the projectionis placed and inside tangent of outline of the projection of radiusdirection of the side wall crosses as making required angle θ2 on thecross section which include the center point of the side wall on whichthe projection is placed, the center of the root of the projection andthe tip of the center line of the projection, except parts having largealteration for example root around and the end point around of theprojection. When the required angle θ2 is smaller than 15 degree, anexample of holding equipment for optical fiber of the present inventionshows noticeable effect.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that dimension of the cross section ofsaid elastic projection of at least one holding unit is such that a meandiameter of the projection at the middle part in length direction is0.4˜2 mm, and especially it is desirable that each of all said elasticprojections of at least one holding unit is that dimension of the crosssection of said elastic projection is such that a mean diameter of theprojection at the middle in length direction is 0.4˜2 mm.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that shape of the tip of said elasticprojection is a part of circle having diameter of 0.2˜1 mm on the crosssection of the projection including the center of the side wall on whichthe projection is placed.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said projection is such projectionthat diameter of the tip around is smaller than diameter of the rootaround.

For an example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention, from such point of view as easy to handle and realizing highreliability it is desirable that length of at least one said elasticprojection is longer than one fourth of space between a pair of sidewalls which are placed in opposition each other, and suitable length ofthe projection is depend on a form of the optical fiber.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that length of at least one said elasticprojection is longer than one half of space between a pair of said sidewalls which are placed in opposition each other.

For an example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention, it is desirable that in case where the holding equipment isused for the buffered fiber, the length of at least one said elasticprojection is shorter as 0.05˜0.15 mm than space between a pair of sidewalls which are placed in opposition each other.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention can show noticeable effect for holding relevant parts to theoptical fiber using of such pair-projection which is a pair ofprojections that space between the two projections is 0 or narrower thantwo times of mean diameter of a outer circle which touch and includetightly the projection inside of it in addition to using of the singleprojection.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that the center position of eachprojection not forming the pair-projection and/or the center position ofeach said pair-projection are placed in equivalent pitch in a directionalong the fringe of the wall on at least one said side wall of at leastone said holding unit.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that all the elastic projections areformed only on one side wall of a pair of said side walls which areplaced in opposition each other.

In a case of a desirable example of holding equipment for optical fiberof the present invention where all the elastic projections formed onlyon one side wall, it is desirable that 24 of said single projectionand/or said pair-projection are formed on at least one side wall of atleast one holding unit for optical fiber, and each center of two nearestneighbor projections which are two nearest neighbor single projectionsor two nearest neighbor pair-projections or one single projection andone nearest neighbor pair-projection make the center angle of 15°against the center of said side wall.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said elastic projections are formedon both side walls which are placed in opposition each other, of theside wall, hereinafter, to be also referred to as the first side walland the side wall, hereinafter, to be also referred to as the secondside wall, and at least one pair of said elastic projections which areplaced on both side walls can be placed at the position which are inopposition each other, also can be placed at the alternate position ofboth side wall.

Desirable length of projections for above-mentioned case is that in acase where the projections are placed in opposition, the sum totallength of both projections is longer than one fourth of space between apair of said side walls which are placed in opposition each other, andmore desirable length of projections is one half of space between a pairof side walls. And in a case of buffered fiber, when optical reliabilityis thought important, said sum total length of both projections ofshorter as 0.05˜0.15 mm than space between the pair of side walls isdesirable. In a case wherein the projections are not placed inopposition and are placed at shifted position each other, when sum totallength of one projection and one of the most neighbor projection is,same as above description, longer than one fourth of space between saidboth side wall, an example of holding equipment for optical fiber of thepresent invention can show noticeable effect for wide ribbon fiber, whensum total length of one projection and one of the most neighborprojection is longer than one half of space between said both side wall,an example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention can show noticeable effect also for narrow ribbon fiber, andespecially to use for buffered fiber, when sum total length of oneprojection and one of the most neighbor projection is shorter as0.05˜0.15 mm than space between a pair of said side walls, an example ofholding equipment for optical fiber of the present invention can shownoticeable effect having high reliability.

Moreover, in case where the projections are not placed in opposition,when sum total length of two projections which are one projection of oneside wall and the nearest neighbor projection of the other wall islonger as 0.05˜0.24 mm than space between said both side walls, aholding equipment for optical fiber which is easy to use and hasespecially high reliability can be realized.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention in which the projections are formed on both side wall whichare placed in opposition each other is characterized by that the centerof each projection not forming the pair-projection and/or the center ofeach said pair-projection are placed in equivalent pitch in a directionalong the fringe of the wall on one said side wall or both said sidewall of at least one said holding unit.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention in which the projections are formed on both side wall whichare placed in opposition each other is characterized by that 48 of saidsingle projection and/or said pair-projection are formed on one sidewall and/or both side wall of at least one said holding unit.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention in which the projections are formed on both side wall whichare placed in opposition each other is characterized by that both ofeach center of two projections which are two nearest neighbor singleprojections or two nearest neighbor pair-projections or one singleprojection and one nearest neighbor pair-projection makes the centerangle of 7.5 against the center of said side wall.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that at least one side wall of said sidewalls having elastic projections is a side wall, hereinafter, to be alsoreferred to as a side wall comprising projections on both side,comprising plural said elastic projections on one side and the otherside of the side wall.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said side wall, plural saidprojections formed on the side wall and the core of reel are formed inone body.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that at least one projection of saidprojections is a projection, hereinafter, to be also referred to as beltstyled projection or belt projection, which has such size that size ofthe projection measured along the fringe of the wall is lager than sizeof the projection measured toward the radius of the wall.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that area of cross section of root around,namely raising up place from the side wall, of said belt styledprojection is lager than area of cross section of end portion of it.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that plural said belt styled projectionsare formed on the same side of at least one side wall.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that number of said belt styledprojections which are formed on the same side of at least one side wallis four.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that a belt styled projection,hereinafter, to be also referred to as projection A, and a projectionwhich is not a belt styled projection, hereinafter, to be also referredto as projection B, are formed on the same side of at least one sidewall.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said core of reel is formed on oneside of said side wall and also said core of reel is formed on the otherside of said side wall.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that size of said core of reel of one sideof said side wall that is measured perpendicular direction to the walland size of said core of reel of the other side of said side wall thatis measured perpendicular direction to the wall are different.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that at least one side wall among the sidewall having said elastic projections is a side wall having projectionson both side of it, that is, a side wall which has plural saidprojections on one side and the reverse side of the wall respectively.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that space between two projections placedon one side of at least one side wall having projections on both side ofit and space between two projections placed on the other side of theside wall are different space.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that shape and size of projections placedon one side of at least one side wall having projections on both side ofit, and shape and size of projections placed on the other side of theside wall are different shape and size.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that only projections which are not beltstyled projections are placed on one side of at least one side wallhaving projections on both side of it, and at least two belt styledprojections are placed on the other side of the side wall.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that at least one side wall havingprojections on both side of it has at least two belt styled projectionsnear to fringe of the side wall.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that projections which are not belt styledprojections are placed on one side of at least one side wall havingprojections on both side of it, and four of belt styled projections areplaced near to fringe of the other side of the side wall and, inaddition, at least two pair of said pair-projections are placed at theposition which is nearer position to core of reel than the position atwhich the belt styled projections are placed.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that distance from fringe of at least oneside wall which is a side wall having projections on both side of it tothe outside surface of the core of reel, that is width of the side wall,is different at one side of that side wall and the other side of thatside wall.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that width of side wall having belt styledprojections near to fringe of the wall which is one side of the sidewall having projections on both side of it, hereinafter, to be alsoreferred to as the second width of side wall is larger than width ofside wall having projections which are not belt styled projections nearto fringe of the wall which is the other side of the side wall havingprojections on both side of it, hereinafter, to be also referred to asthe first width of side wall.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized in that said side wall has four of ditches orslits, namely cut parts.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized in that said cut part reaches to position ofthe core of reel on the side wall having the projections.

Though above explanation of many sorts of characteristics of holdingequipment for optical fiber of the present invention is made mainlyfocusing characteristics of examples of elastic projections which areplaced on said side wall forming the optical fiber holding area, theside wall and the core of reel, but the present invention is not limitednarrowly to above mentioned characteristics, and it is obvious fromabove explanation and following explanation that the present inventioncomprises also some of the above mentioned characteristics together asthere is not technical contradiction.

One of the most noteworthy characteristic of the present invention isthat such holding equipment for optical fiber became practicable thatdiameter of holding equipment is smaller than 8 cm, being wound andbeing unwound of the fiber are easy, it can prevent effectivelyunwinding due to an accident of drop and it is inexpensive, by using anexample of holding equipment for optical fiber of the present inventionhaving the above mentioned many sorts of characteristics, whilepreviously it was considered that to hold the relatively short length,for example 2 m or 3 m length, optical fiber winding into ring havingdiameter smaller than 8 cm is impossible in view of characteristics ofthe fiber.

In addition, followings are explanation about manufacturing such aholding equipment made of elastomers for optical fiber that can be usedas is for processing vaporized deposition of antireflective layer on theterminal surface of optical fiber.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said at least one pair of side wallsand projections formed on said side wall are made of fluorinatedelastomer.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that hardness of the fluorinated elastomerwhich forms said holding equipment for optical fiber is 70˜90 in Shorehardness.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that hardness of the fluorinated elastomerwhich forms said holding equipment for optical fiber is 75˜85 in Shorehardness.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized in that said fluorinated elastomer isvinylidenefluoride elastomer or tetrafluoroethylene-perfluorovinyletherelastomer.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that contents of fluorine of saidfluorinated elastomer is 65˜70%.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said fluorinated elastomer isthermally treated for more than 1 hour at 250˜400° C. on themanufacturing process.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said fluorinated elastomer isthermally treated for 8˜24 hours at 260˜270° C. on the manufacturingprocess.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said holding equipment for opticalfiber is a holding equipment which was post-vulcanized at 204˜260° C.after formed holding equipment for optical fiber.

In addition, an example of said elastic projections, side wall, core ofreel of the present invention can be formed by material other thanfluorinated elastomers.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber which is not used forvacuum vaporized deposition of the present invention is characterized bythat said core of reel, said at least one pair of side walls andprojections formed on said side wall of at least one holding unit aremade of silicone elastomer. Such holding equipment for optical fibermakes possible to provide inexpensive products.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized in that said silicone elastomer is colored,opaque against a visible ray.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that color of said silicone elastomer canbe used for distinction of said holding equipment for optical fiber. Bysuch application, attributes of optical fiber can be indicated easy todistinguish.

In addition, followings are explanation about more details ofcharacteristics of composition of an example of holding equipment foroptical fiber of the present invention.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that the holding equipment for opticalfiber has at least two holding unit for optical fiber of the firstholding unit and the second holding unit, and the first holding unit hassaid elastic projections on one said side wall of at least one pair ofside walls which are placed in opposition each other or both said sidewall of at least one pair of side walls which are placed in oppositioneach other.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that the second holding unit has saidelastic projections on one said side wall of at least one pair of sidewalls which are placed in opposition each other or both said side wallof at least one pair of side walls which are placed in opposition eachother.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that the second holding unit has at leastone pair of side walls which have not said elastic projections.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that all of the side wall, the core ofreel and the elastic projections of the first holding unit and thesecond holding unit are made of elastic materials.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that the first holding unit and the secondholding unit are composed being able to be connected in one body byusing unit-connection-part.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said unit-connection-part is a partwhich connect said the first holding unit and the second holding unit inone body by inserting the part into a hole or a cavity formed on thefirst holding unit and into a hole or a cavity formed on the secondholding unit to hold said the first holding unit and the second holdingunit.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said the first holding unit and thesecond holding unit are made of elastic material into one body by usingone-piece molding.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said the first holding unit and thesecond holding unit are made of different materials.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that the materials which construct thesecond holding unit are the materials having characteristics of a rigidbody as a holding unit for optical fiber.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that a connection-part by which said thefirst holding unit can be connected with said the second holding unit ina condition of removable and re-connectable is formed in one body withthe second holding unit as a extended part from the second holding unit.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that an attaching part in style of concavepart or convex part that can combine with at least one of the first andthe second holding unit is formed as a part of the connection-part, anda combining part which is concave part or convex part is formed on theholding unit which is connected to the attaching part.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that one side wall of a pair of side wallswhich are placed in opposition each other of the second holding unit isthe back side of the side wall which is one of a pair of side walls ofthe first holding unit.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said the second holding unit has apair of side walls which are placed in opposition each other anddifferent from that of the first holding unit.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said holding equipment for opticalfiber has the third holding unit for optical fiber in addition to thefirst holding unit and the second holding unit.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that the third holding unit is formed suchstructure as capable being connected with the first holding unit or thesecond holding unit into one body.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that the third holding unit has a pair ofside walls which are placed in opposition each other, and at least oneof the pair of side walls is a side wall having said projections.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that at least one of said side walls is aside wall formed as being able to be fit between two side walls afterformed independently of the other component being comprised in saidholding equipment for optical fiber and to construct two holding unitfor optical fiber.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that at least one of said side walls is aside wall having said projections on its both side.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that at least two of said optical fiberholding area of each of at least two of said holding unit have differentdepth of the holding unit respectively.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that at least one of side wallconstructing boundary of said two holding unit is a side wall havingsaid ditches or slits.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that size of projection of the fringe ofsaid side wall is within a circle having 10 cm in diameter.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that thickness of said holding equipmentfor optical fiber is thinner than 3 mm.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized in a holding equipment for optical fiber intowhich the optical fiber having length within 5 m can be wound, whereinthe holding equipment for optical fiber comprises optical fiber holdingarea, where-into the optical fiber can be hold wound on a core of reel,comprising, at least, a core of reel having shape of its fringe ofcircle or ellipse or polygon on which optical fiber can be wound, atleast one pair of side walls placed in opposition each other, connectedwith said core of reel or combined to said core of reel, having shape offringe of circle or ellipse or polygon and having shape of flat board,elastic projections which are formed at place near the fringe and innerof the fringe on the side wall, stick out from the wall toward theopposite side wall, and hollow formed at the core of reel and the sidewalls.

Followings are explanation of holding equipment for optical fiber of thepresent invention, having more comprehensive characteristics thanaforementioned characteristics, made of fluorinated elastomer.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that the holding equipment for opticalfiber is holding equipment being able to hold the fiber by winding andmade of cured fluorinated elastomer.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that hardness of said fluorinatedelastomer is 70˜90 in Shore hardness.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that hardness of said fluorinatedelastomer is 75˜85 in Shore hardness.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said fluorinated elastomer isvinylidenefluoride elastomer or tetrafluoroethylene-perfluorovinyletherelastomer.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said fluorinated elastomer contains65˜70% of fluorine.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said fluorinated elastomer isthermally treated for more than 1 hour at 250˜400° C. on themanufacturing process.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said fluorinated elastomer isthermally treated for 8˜24 hours at 260˜270° C. on the manufacturingprocess.

An example of holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention is characterized by that said holding equipment is a holdingequipment which was post-cured at 204˜260° C. after formed holdingequipment.

Although the above has provided an explanation a part of thecharacteristics of the present invention, as described above, thepresent invention makes many kinds of mode practicable as describedlater, and an example of the present invention is characterized by thatthere are some cases showing one of aforementioned characteristics andshowing combined characteristics of aforementioned characteristics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of embodiment of holdingequipment for optical fiber of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a drawing that explains placement of projections of holdingequipment for optical fiber of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a drawing that explains placement of projections of holdingequipment for optical fiber of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross section that explains a part of holding equipment foroptical fiber of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged drawing of surroundings of optical fiber holdingarea of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a drawing that explains state of optical fiber held in holdingequipment for optical fiber of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a drawing that explains another embodiment of holdingequipment for optical fiber of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a drawing that explains an example of projections placed onthe side wall of holding equipment for optical fiber as an example ofembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a drawing that explains an example of projections placed onthe side wall of holding equipment for optical fiber as an example ofembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a drawing that explains an example of placement ofprojections placed on the side wall of holding equipment for opticalfiber as an example of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a drawing that explains an example of placement ofprojections placed on the side wall of holding equipment for opticalfiber as an example of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross section that explains an example of holding equipmentfor optical fiber as an example of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a drawing that explains an example of holding equipment foroptical fiber as an example of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a drawing that explains holding equipment for optical fiberas an example of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a drawing that explains holding equipment for optical fiberas an example of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a drawing that explains holding equipment for optical fiberas an example of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a drawing that explains holding equipment for optical fiberas an example of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a cross section that explains holding equipment for opticalfiber as an example of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a drawing that explains state of optical fiber held inholding equipment for optical fiber of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a drawing that explains state of unwinding optical fiber heldin the holding equipment for optical fiber of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a drawing that explains holding equipment for optical fiberas an example of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a cross section that explains holding equipment for opticalfiber as an example of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a cross section that explains holding equipment for opticalfiber as an example of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a drawing that explains manufacturing method of projectionsplaced on a side wall of holding equipment for optical fiber as anexample of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a cross section that explains an example of the ribbonoptical fiber.

FIG. 26 is a cross section that explains holding equipment for opticalfiber as an example of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a cross section that explains holding equipment for opticalfiber as an example of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a cross section that explains holding equipment for opticalfiber as an example of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a cross section that explains holding equipment for opticalfiber as an example of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a drawing that explains conventional handling method of theoptical fiber.

FIG. 31 is a drawing that explains conventional handling method of theoptical fiber.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The following provides an explanation of a mode for carrying out thepresent invention with reference to the drawings. Furthermore, althougheach of the drawings used in the explanation schematically shows thedimensions, shape and layout relationship of each constituent componentto a degree that enables the present invention to be understood. For thesake of convenience in providing the explanation, those components maybe illustrated while partially changing the enlargement factor, thosecomponents may be illustrated only essential parts, and there are casesin which they may not always resemble the actual objects or descriptionsof the embodiments and so forth. In addition, in each of the drawings,similar constituent components are indicated by assigning the samereference symbols, and duplicate explanations may be omitted.

FIG. 1˜FIG. 5 are drawings that explain holding equipment for opticalfiber as the first example of embodiment of the present invention, FIG.1 is a perspective view of holding equipment for optical fiber beforewinding the fiber on it, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are drawings that explainplacement of projections placed on each of side walls of the opticalfiber holding area of holding equipment for optical fiber shown in FIG.1, each of side walls shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are placed inopposition each other at the optical fiber holding area. FIG. 4 is across section that shows the upper half of holding equipment for opticalfiber shown in FIG. 1 being cut at a position of the center line 14shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross section of encircled partshown in FIG. 4, namely surroundings of optical fiber holding area.

In FIG. 1˜FIG. 5, reference symbol 1 indicates a holding equipment foroptical fiber, reference symbols 2 and 3 indicate side walls which areplaced in opposition each other and construct a optical fiber holdingarea, reference symbols 2 a 30 and 3 a 30 indicate the exterior part ofside wall, reference symbols 5 a 1˜5 a 5 indicate elastic projectionsplaced on side wall 2, reference symbols 5 b 1˜5 b 5 indicate elasticprojections placed on side wall 3, reference symbol 5 is a referencesymbol which indicates each of projections 5 a 1˜5 a 5, 5 b 1˜5 b 5shown in FIG. 1 or general term for them, reference symbol 7 indicatesinside part of the core of reel, namely the interior wall of the core ofreel, reference symbol 8 indicates a space formed by the interior wall 7(hereinafter, to be also referred to as hollow portion), referencesymbol 6 indicates the surface of core of reel, namely the outsideportion of core of reel, means the bottom surface of an optical fiberholding area 10 which will be described later, reference symbol 10indicates an optical fiber holding area formed with side wall 2 and 3,projections 5 placed at said side walls and the bottom surface 6,reference symbols 11˜14 indicate the center line of the side wall 2 and3, reference symbol 0 indicates an angle formed by line connected thecenter of side wall 2 or 3 and a projection and line connected thecenter of side wall 2 or 3 and the nearest neighbor projection of saidprojection, namely angle which is formed by two projections which arethe nearest neighbor each other against the center of side wall,reference symbols 31˜34 indicate convex portion formed on the exteriorwall of the side wall 2 and 3 as a processed portion, reference symbols36 and 35 indicate edge of the side wall 2 and 3 (hereinafter, to bealso referred to as fringe of the side wall), reference symbols d1˜d7,p1˜p2, t1˜t2, w1˜w2 indicate measure of each part shown in each figurethat will be described later.

Further, above described side wall 2 and 3 in FIG. 1 mean the surface,indicated by reference symbols 2 and 3, of each plate which are placedinside of an optical fiber holding area 10 in opposition each other andconstruct an optical fiber holding area 10, but for the sake ofconvenience in providing the explanation, in following drawings andexplanation, there are some cases about meaning of the side wall thatis, for instance explaining about FIG. 1 as an example, a case where theside wall means the surface of each plate indicated by reference symbols2 or 3, a case where the side wall means the exterior part being theback side of side wall 2, 3 (hereinafter, to be also referred to asexterior wall) indicated by reference symbols 2 a 30, 3 a 30, a casewhere the side wall 2, 3 means including a part should be called fleshpart, indicated by reference symbols 2 a, 3 a in FIG. 4 that will bedescribed later, of side wall which has the surface indicated byreference symbols 2, 3 as one side of it and the exterior wall indicatedby reference symbols 2 a 30, 3 a 30 as the other side of it, a casewhere the side wall 2, 3 means all of the parts indicated by referencesymbols 2, 3, 2 a, 3 a, 2 a 30, 3 a 30, a case where the side wall 2, 3mean parts including extended parts indicated by reference symbols 2, 3,2 a, 3 a, 2 a 30, 3 a 30 to the position of the core of reel or theposition of hollow portion 8 in addition to above-mentioned cases,except cases that there are some fear of serious misunderstanding causedby explanation in front and/or behind and/or quotation from drawing. Andin necessary case for the sake of convenience in providing theexplanation, the word of the side wall will be used distinguishedmeaning of each case or meaning of mixed cases.

In FIG. 1, all the components of the side wall 2, 3, projections 5, thebottom surface 6, the interior wall 7 being comprised in the holdingequipment for optical fiber 1, in an example of embodiment of thepresent invention, are made of fluorinated elastomers. The contents offluorine of the fluorinated elastomers is 65˜70%, the hardness is 70˜90in Shore hardness (75˜85 in Shore hardness is especially favorable). Theholding equipment for optical fiber is post-vulcanized in a oven at204˜260° C. after formed into a holding equipment, therefore, in a casewhere it is used in a vacuum vaporized deposition device, when thetemperature is going up beyond 100° C. in a vacuum vaporized depositiondevice, there is no problem about out-gassing, harming to form vacuumvaporized deposition layers, due to the holding equipment.

The holding equipment for optical fiber 1 is formed by press moldingprocess and by using above-described fluorinated elastomers. The elasticprojections indicated by reference symbols 5 a 1˜5 a 5, 5 b 1˜5 b 5 areplaced inside of the side walls 2 and 3, namely the side where opticalfiber is held, and each of the projections 5 a 1˜5 a 5 and each of theprojections 5 b 1˜5 b 5 are placed at positions which are not placed inopposition each other and such positions where each of the projectionsplaced on the side wall 2 and each of the projections placed on the sidewall 3 are located alternatively like that projection 5 b 1 is placedin-between projection 5 a 1 and projection 5 a 2, projection 5 b 2 isplaced in-between projection 5 a 2 and projection 5 a 3, and so forth.

FIG. 2 is drawing that explains each of the projections placed on theside wall 2 of holding equipment for optical fiber. FIG. 2 is drawingwritten about a half of the circumference of side wall 2, viewing fromthe out side of side wall 2, in that the crossing point of the centerline 11 and the center line 12 is the center of side wall 2, and each ofthe projections 5 a 1, 5 a 2, 5 a 3 . . . is placed like that eachnearest two lines formed by connecting each projection and the center ofside wall 2 make the center angle of 15° against the center of said sidewall, for example, in FIG. 2, as shown in drawing, two lines formed byconnecting projection 5 a 3, 5 a 4 and the center of side wall 2respectively make the center angle of 15° against the center of saidside wall, two lines formed by connecting projection 5 a 4, 5 a 5 andthe center of side wall 2 respectively make the center angle of 15°against the center of said side wall 2, and so forth, and each of theprojections is placed at the position where the side wall 2 is dividedequally into 12 parts and is formed in one body with side wall 2.

FIG. 3 is drawing that explains each of the projections placed on theside wall 3 of the holding equipment 1. FIG. 3 is drawing written abouta half of the circumference of side wall 3, viewing from the out side ofside wall 3, in that the crossing point of the center line 13 and thecenter line 14 is the center of side wall 3, and each of the projections5 b 1, 5 b 2, 5 b 3 . . . is placed like that each nearest two linesformed by connecting each projection and the center of side wall 3 makethe center angle of 15° against the center of said side wall, forexample, in FIG. 3, as shown in drawing, two lines formed by connectingprojection 5 b 3, 5 b 4 and the center of side wall 3 respectively makethe center angle of 15° against the center of said side wall 3, twolines formed by connecting projection 5 b 4, 5 b 5 and the center ofside wall 3 respectively make the center angle of 15° against the centerof said side wall 3, and so forth, and each of the projections is placedat the position where side wall 3 is divided equally into 12 parts andis formed in one body with side wall 3.

FIG. 4 is a cross section looking from the left side in FIG. 2 thatshows the holding equipment for optical fiber 1 being cut at the centerline 12 shown in FIG. 2 (which is located at the place overlapping withthe center line 14 shown in FIG. 3). In FIG. 4, reference symbol d5indicates diameter of the fringe of side wall 2 and 3, reference symbold6 indicates diameter of the bottom surface of optical fiber holdingarea 10, namely the outside portion of the core of reel, referencesymbol d7 indicates diameter of the interior wall 7.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged drawing of encircled part by circle A shown inFIG. 4, convex portions 31˜34 as a processed portions are formed on theexterior wall of side walls 2 and 3 to prevent piled side walls clingingfirmly when many holding equipments for optical fiber are piled. Onaccount of above-mentioned processed portion, it comes possible thatmany of holding equipments for optical fiber of the present inventioncan be installed in such way that many holding equipments are put to acase like magazine, pole styled body, and so on, under conditionslightly pressed, for example to process by automatic machine, withoutsuch problem that plural of the holding equipments cling firmly eachother, then two holding equipments are took out while one holdingequipment should be took out.

Cross section of the fringe of side walls 2 and 3 shown in FIG. 5 issemicircle. Projection 5 formed sticking out from side wall 2 towardside wall 3 and projection formed sticking out from side wall 3 towardside wall 2 (not shown in the drawing) are placed under such conditionthat the outmost portion of the projection shifted to inner side of arequired distance from fringe 36 of side wall 2 or from fringe 35 ofside wall 3 toward the bottom surface 6. The slope between the outmostportion of the fringe of side wall 2 or side wall 3 and each ofprojections 5 a 1, 5 a 2, 5 a 3 . . . or 5 b 1, 5 b 2, 5 b 3 . . . playa role of guide for optical fiber when the fiber is wound into holdingequipment for optical fiber 1, and contributes largely to makingpossible to perform accurately such job winding the fiber into holdingequipment for optical fiber 1 and unwinding the fiber from the holdingequipment for optical fiber and contributes largely to reducing workingtime.

Measure of d1 means a measure from the interior wall 7 of side wall 2, 3to the fringe 35, 36 of side wall 2, 3, measure of d2 means a measurefrom the interior wall 7 to the interior portion of each projection 5 a1, 5 b 1, and so on, measure of d3 means a measure from the interiorwall 7 to the center of convex 31, 33 which is formed on the exterior ofside wall 2, 3 as a protruded part, namely a processed portion, measureof d4 means the depth of optical fiber holding aria 10, namely a measurefrom the interior of each projection to the bottom surface 6 formed onthe side of optical fiber holding aria. Measure of w1 means the maximumthickness measure of holding equipment for optical fiber, measure of w2means a measure of thickness measure of the part of holding equipmentfor optical fiber at where the convex 31˜34 are not formed on theexterior of the side wall. Measure of t2 and t1 mean a measure ofthickness measure of the part of the side wall 2, 3 at where the convex31˜34 are not formed on the exterior of the side wall.

According to the result of experiment of the inventor of the presentinvention, length of the projection 5 longer than one fourth of width ofthe optical fiber holding area, namely space between side wall 2 andside wall 3 of the optical fiber holding area 10 is desirable forperforming to wind the fiber into the holding equipment for opticalfiber and to unwind the fiber of required length from the holdingequipment in which the fiber is wound and held, with light force likethat worker feels natural action, and also desirable to prevent somekind of obstruction to such process as, for example, attachingcollimator to the terminal of the fiber held in the holding equipmentfor optical fiber or polishing of the terminal surface of the fiber dueto unwinding the fiber from the holding equipment or deforming shape,and processing vaporized deposition of antireflective layer on theterminal surface. In FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, cases of different length ofprojection 5 are indicated.

In an example of embodiment of the present invention, the inventor ofthe present invention manufactured, as an example of the holdingequipment for optical fiber described using FIG. 1˜FIG. 5, by usingafore-mentioned fluorinated elastomer, the holding equipment forbuffered fiber of diameter 0.25 mm having the following specifications,wherein, explaining the dimension in mm, d1=4.3, d2=3.74, d3=2, d4=2,d5=73.6 φ (φ means diameter, the same as followings), d6=69φ, d7=65φ,p1=p2=0.5, t1=t2=0.6, w1=2.6, w2=2.2, shape of cross section of fringe36 and 35 of side wall 2 and 3 are circle having 0.3 mm as its radius,length of projection 5 is ½˜1.5/2 of space between side wall 2 and sidewall 3, namely ½˜1.5/2 of width of optical fiber holding area, shape ofthe tip of projection 5 is sphere shape of radius of 0.25 mm, and then,as will be described later, got such result that quality of such processas to wind and hold of optical fiber, to unwind and wind the fiber ofrequired length for some process, to attach parts for collimator to theterminal of the fiber, to polish of the terminal surface of the fiber,and so on, was improved remarkably, and in a case of formingantireflective layer, excellent antireflective layer was formed withoutproblem of out-gassing from the holding equipment for optical fiber in avacuum vaporized deposition device using the same holding equipment foroptical fiber as described above. In FIG. 5, portions indicated byreference symbol B are tapered slope formed at border between interiorwall 7 and side wall 2 and between interior wall 7 and side wall 3, andits dimension is 0.5 mm in the case of above described.

FIG. 6 is a drawing that explains a state of a holding equipment foroptical fiber 1, wherein after a holding equipment for optical fiber 1was formed into above-mentioned dimensions, as an example ofabove-mentioned processes, optical fiber 21 was wound into the holdingequipment for optical fiber 1, then one terminal side of the opticalfiber 21 was unwound out for required length from the holding equipmentfor optical fiber and ferrule 23 was attached to the terminal and theterminal side of the optical fiber 21 was wound into the holdingequipment for optical fiber, in addition, the other terminal side of theoptical fiber was unwound out for required length from the holdingequipment for optical fiber and collimator 22 was attached to theterminal.

As was previously known, optical fiber having diameter of 250 μm withthe first coated layer is weak against bending and hard, therefore whensaid unwound part for the processing of the fiber held into aconventional holding equipment is pulled or terminal around of saidunwound part of the fiber held into a conventional holding equipment ismoved, strong force is exercised on the fiber, then shape of the ring ofthe fiber is put into disorder and it become obstacle to the process,but in the case of the holding equipment for optical fiber of thepresent invention, when the fiber held into the holding equipment of thepresent invention is pulled by usual force, a part of the fiber for alength corresponding to the force is coming out from the holdingequipment by slipping out reliably over the elastic projections placedas holding spring on the side wall 2 and 3, and also remaining fiberwhich is wound in the holding equipment except the unwound part is heldinto the holding equipment and kept suitably and safely in requestedshape and size in the holding equipment, then strong force is notexercised on the fiber and there are no obstacle to the process due tosnapping of the fiber, disorder of the shape.

In addition, even though the holding equipment for optical fiber of thepresent invention is formed of elastic resin like synthetic rubber,according to the effect of the convex 31˜34 which are placed on theexterior side of the side wall of the holding equipment as processedportion, it comes possible that many of holding equipments for opticalfiber of the present invention can be installed in such way that manyholding equipments are put into a case so-called magazine undercondition of slightly pressed for field of automatic machining, withoutsuch problem which is a fatal problem for automatic machine that pluralof the holding equipments cling firmly each other, then plural ofholding equipments are took out while one holding equipment should betook out.

FIG. 7 is a drawing that explains an example of holding equipment foroptical fiber which has ditch or slit, namely cut part, formed on sidewall 2, 3 and interior wall 7 as an example of an embodiment of holdingequipment for optical fiber of the present invention. In FIG. 7,reference symbols 2 a 1˜3 indicate the cut parts formed on the portionof optical fiber holding area of side wall 2, reference symbols 7 a 1˜7a 3 indicate the cut parts formed on the interior wall 7.

The cut parts 2 a 1˜3 can be utilized in such case, for example, whereina bundle of fiber held to the optical fiber holding area is took out asis, wherein some construct which described later is attached to theholding equipment for optical fiber as a combining means between theconstruct and sidewall 2, wherein optical fiber is shifted from oneholding area to other holding area of the holding equipment for opticalfiber which is constructed by combining plural of the holding equipmentswhich will be described later. The cut parts 2 a 1˜3 placed on the sidewall 2 can be formed on one of side wall 2 and 3, also can be formed onboth of side wall 2 and 3, and also can be not formed on both of sidewall 2 and 3, and that is selected depend on the purpose of applicationand/or materials of the holding equipment, and so on.

While the cut parts 2 a 1˜3 are used for combining means between theholding equipment and parts for control, when the holding equipment isused for some kind of automatic machine or in a vacuum vaporizeddeposition device, accurate operation comes possible.

Furthermore, in a case of above-described holding equipment for opticalfiber of the present invention which is made of fluorinated elastomersbeing able to be used in vacuum by one-piece molding technology, whenthickness of the side wall etc. is made too thin for the sake ofconvenience in taking out the bundle of optical fiber held in theholding equipment from the holding equipment as is, there are also somecases where it is not easy to handle the holding equipment for opticalfiber. For the sake of convenience in application of the holdingequipment for optical fiber, there are also case where material isselected over the sacrifice of bend of the holding equipment. Takingsuch condition into consideration, in an example of embodiment ofholding equipment for optical fiber of the present invention, someconstructs can be used for attaching to the holding equipment bycombining with the interior wall and/or the side wall.

As an example of such construct which can combine with the holdingequipment for optical fiber having dimensions of d1˜d7 described above,being not shown in the drawing, there is a construct comprising a hollowdisk which can attach to the exterior surface of the side wall bytouching and a hollow cylinder which is connected with said hollow diskand is used by being inserted into the interior wall 7. An example ofdimensions of such construct which is used for the holding equipment foroptical fiber having dimensions of d1˜d7 described above are suchdimensions that thickness of the hollow disk is 0.5 mm, outside diameterof the hollow disk is 70 mm, inside diameter of the hollow disk is 63 mm(namely, thickness of hollow cylinder part is 65−63=2 mm), length of thecylinder part (namely, dimension of raising-up part from the disk) is2.6 mm, and the tip part of the cylinder of which length is 0.8 mm isformed as a taper with angle of 15 toward inner side. According to suchshape and dimensions, such construct can be inserted easily into theinterior wall of the holding equipment for optical fiber, and also whenthe hollow cylinder of the construct is inserted until the hollow disktouches to the exterior surface of the side wall, the part where is nottapered, namely the part of which length is 1.8 mm raised up from thehollow disk is bound tightly by contracting force of said interior ofthe holding equipment for optical fiber, then the construct can keep itsposition reliably, and such construct can play a role of reinforcementfor the holding equipment for optical fiber and/or combining with partsfor control, then such construct can make the holding equipment foroptical fiber easier being used.

FIG. 8 is a drawing that explains more specific example of projectionsof holding equipment for optical fiber as an example of an embodiment ofthe present invention. In FIG. 8, reference symbols 40˜42 indicateprojections, projections 40˜42 are formed parallel to tangent line offringe of the side wall where the projections are formed, or are formedslanted where the tip of the projection is closer to said bottom surfaceof the optical fiber holding area than the root of the projection, orare formed parallel to perpendicular line of the side wall where theprojections are formed and toward another side wall which is placed inopposition to that side wall.

Furthermore, each projection is formed as slanted as each of the centerline of projections 40 and 42 makes specified angle −θ5 with theperpendicular line of the side wall where the projections are formed,the center line of projection 41 makes specified angle θ5 with theperpendicular line of the side wall where the projection is formed. Itis desirable that above specified angle θ5 is smaller than 10°, then itis easy to handle such as winding and unwinding of optical fiber, theoptical fiber held in the holding equipment for optical fiber by beingwound in it is hard to unwind naturally during its handling, and it ispossible to hold optical fiber into the holding equipment for opticalfiber with high reliability. Projections 40 and 42 are placed on thesame side wall 3 and projection 41 is placed on the side wall 2 which isplaced in opposition to the side wall 3.

In addition, the perpendicular component against the side wall ofprojections 40˜42 is longer than ¼ (one fourth) of distance between saidside walls, and especially, when it is shorter as 0.05˜0.15 mm than thedistance, namely the space between said side walls, the holdingequipment can show such noticeable effect as keeping easy winding ofoptical fiber, having excellent characteristics against fall, and havinghigh reliability of holding equipment.

The projections shown in FIG. 8 are formed slanted downward regardingfringe of the side wall in the drawing, and according to saidprojections formed slanted as shown in FIG. 8, soft and slimmerprojections are available to prevent unwinding naturally for opticalfiber wound into the optical fiber holding area and user can wind easilyoptical fiber when optical fiber is held into the holding equipment foroptical fiber. Furthermore, when the length of the projection is longerthan a half of the width of distance between said side walls, theholding equipment for optical fiber can show such noticeable effect asto prevent optical fiber unwinding and coming out from the holdingequipment.

FIG. 9 is a drawing that explains another specific example ofprojections of holding equipment for optical fiber as an example of anembodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 9, reference symbols 43˜48indicate projections, the projections can be formed parallel to tangentline of fringe of the side wall where the projections are formed, orslanted toward inside of optical fiber holding area wherein the tip ofthe projection is closer to said bottom surface of the optical fiberholding area than the root of the projection, or parallel toperpendicular line of the side wall where the projections are formed andtoward another side wall which is placed in opposition to that sidewall.

Projection 43˜48 are formed as slanted as each of the center line ofprojections 43, 44, 47, 48 makes specified angle −θ6 with theperpendicular line of the side wall, each of the center line ofprojection 45, 46 makes specified angle θ6 with the perpendicular lineof the side wall. It is desirable that above specified angle θ6 issmaller than 10°, then it can realize holding equipment having excellenthandling characteristics. Furthermore, projections 43, 44, 47, 48 areplaced on the same side wall, and projections 43, 44 and projections 47,48 are closely placed respectively as forming such pair-projection thatspace between two roots of projection is 0 or narrower than two times ofdiameter of a outer circle which touch and include tightly the root ofprojection inside of it. Projections 45 and 46 are also placed on theside wall which is placed in opposition to the side wall on thatprojections 43, 44, 47, 48 are placed, and projections 45 and 46 areplaced as forming pair-projection too. In addition, when theperpendicular component to the side wall of the length of projections43˜48 is longer than ¼ of distance between said side walls, andespecially, when it is shorter as 0.05˜0.15 mm than the distance, namelythe space between said side walls, the holding equipment can show suchnoticeable effect as being easy to handle, having excellentcharacteristics against fall, namely, even for buffered fiber, beingable to prevent a part of the fiber coming out from the holdingequipment on account of fall by accident, and having high reliability ofholding equipment.

When the projections are formed slanted to one direction concerning withthe fringe of the side wall, for example downward in the drawing, namelywhere the position of the tip of the projection is lower than theposition of the root of the projection as shown in FIG. 9, the holdingequipment becomes more easy to handle for winding and holding opticalfiber. When the projections are closely placed, some kind of parts canbe hold between the closely placed projections.

Furthermore, when the perpendicular component to the side wall of thelength of the projection is longer than a half of distance between saidside walls, the holding equipment for optical fiber can show suchnoticeable effect as to prevent optical fiber unwinding and coming outfrom the holding equipment.

Projections shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are examples of layout ofprojections wherein projections are placed on both side walls which areplaced in opposition each other and are placed alternately along thefringe direction of said side walls, namely like that one projection ofthe projections is placed at a place on side wall 2, the next projectionis placed on side wall 3, following projection is placed on side wall 2again, and so on.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are drawings that explain examples of layout ofprojections of examples of holding equipments for optical fiber of thepresent invention. In the drawings, reference symbols 51, 53 indicateside wall, reference symbols 54 and 58˜60 indicate projections,reference symbol 61 indicates a pair-projection in which two projectionsare placed closely. In FIG. 10, projections 54 are placed on side wall51 in equivalent space.

In FIG. 11, projections 58˜60 are placed on side wall 53 in such waywhere projections 59 and 60 are formed as their roots contact eachother, projection 58 is formed as its root does not contact with otherprojection, and projections are placed in such way where two projectionsof singly placed are placed, following that one pair-projection comes,and so on, and pitch of each two neighbor projections that is spacebetween two neighbor singly placed projections or one singly placedprojection and the center of the next pair-projection are equivalentintervals.

FIG. 12˜FIG. 16 are drawings that explain examples of embodiment ofholding equipment for optical fiber of the present invention where theprojections are placed on one side wall of a pair of side walls placedin opposition each other and the projection is not placed on the otherside wall of said pair of side walls placed in opposition each other.

FIG. 12 is a cross section that explains an example of holding equipmentfor optical fiber as an example of embodiment of the present invention.In FIG. 12, reference symbol 604 indicates holding equipment for opticalfiber of the present invention, reference symbol 71 indicates core ofreel constructing the holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention, reference symbols 72, 73 indicate side walls which areconnected with or closely placed to the core of reel, and are placed inopposition each other, reference symbol 76 indicates outside surface ofthe core of reel which is inside part of the side wall 72 and 73,reference symbol 77 indicates optical fiber holding area which is aspace formed with outside potion of the core of reel 76, side wall 72and 73, projections 79, 80 which will be described later and otherprojections (not shown in the drawing), reference symbol 78 indicateshollow portion, reference symbols 79, 80 indicate elastic projectionswhich are placed on the side wall 72 and protrude toward side wall 73.The projections 79 and 80 can be formed parallel to tangent line offringe of the side wall where the projections are formed, or slantedtoward inside of optical fiber holding area where the tip of theprojection is closer to the bottom surface of the optical fiber holdingarea than the root of the projection, or parallel to perpendicular lineof the side wall where the projections are formed and toward anotherside wall which is placed in opposition to that side wall.

The center line of projections 79 and 80 and other projections (notshown in the drawing) are formed as slanted toward bottom surface,namely outside potion of the core of reel, as the center line makesspecified angle θ7 with the perpendicular line of the side wall wherethe projections are placed.

It is desirable that above specified angle θ7 is smaller than 10°, thenit can realize holding equipment having excellent characteristics ofeasy handling and high reliability.

According to said projections formed slanted as shown in FIG. 12, softand slimmer projections become available to prevent unwinding naturallyoptical fiber wound into the optical fiber holding area and it ispossible to wind easily into the holding equipment for optical fiber.

FIG. 13˜FIG. 16 are drawings that explain example of projections ofholding equipment for optical fiber explained about FIG. 12, viewingholding equipment for optical fiber from the out side of theprojections.

In FIG. 13, reference symbols 90 and 91 indicate projections, andprojections 90 and 91 are formed perpendicular to the side wall at theposition where they are placed. Projections 90 and 91 are formed on thesame side wall 72. Length of projections 90 and 91 are longer than ¼ ofdistance between said side walls and shorter than distance between saidside walls.

As a result of said projections formed longer than ¼ of distance betweensaid side walls and shorter than the distance between said side walls asshown in FIG. 13, it can prevent effectively optical fiber unwinding andcoming out from the holding equipment. Furthermore, when the length ofthe projection is shorter as 0.05˜0.15 mm than the distance, namely thespace between said side walls, the holding equipment can show suchnoticeable effect as being easy to handle, having excellentcharacteristics against fall. Namely, even under such condition as notso strong resistance against winding optical fiber into the holdingequipment for optical fiber, there is no fear of coming out for theoptical fiber wound into the holding equipment from the holdingequipment on account of fall of the holding equipment by accident duringhandled, and it is possible to keep optical fiber into the holdingequipment for optical fiber with high reliability.

In FIG. 14, reference symbols 92˜95 indicate projections, andprojections 92˜95 are formed perpendicular to the side wall 72 on whichthey are formed and protrude toward side wall 73 which is placedparallel to side wall 72 and in opposition with side wall 72.Projections 92, 93 and projections 94, 95 are pair-projectionsrespectively formed as their roots contact each other. Regarding to thelength of the projection and its effect, it is same as above-mentionedcases.

In FIG. 15, reference symbols 96 and 97 indicate projections, and thecenter line of projections 96 and 97 are formed as being inside of theplane, which is parallel to fringe of side wall 72, at the root of eachprojection and as slanted as each projection makes specified angle θ8with the perpendicular line of the side wall 72. When above specifiedangle θ8 is smaller than 10°, then it can realize easy to use holdingequipment. Projections 96 and 97 are formed on the same side wall 72.Each length of projections 96 and 97 measured perpendicular to the sidewall is longer than ¼ of distance between said side walls and shorterthan distance between said side walls.

When the projections are formed slanted to one direction concerning withthe fringe of the side wall, for example downward in the drawing asshown in FIG. 15, then optical fiber can be installed easily into theholding equipment for optical fiber. Furthermore, when the length of theprojection is longer than a half of distance between said side walls andshorter than distance between said side walls, the holding equipment foroptical fiber can show such noticeable effect as to prevent unwindingfor optical fiber wound into it and coming out from it for opticalfiber.

In FIG. 16, reference symbols 98 and 99 indicate projections, andprojections 98 and 99 are formed as slanted as each projection makesspecified angle θ9 with the perpendicular line of the side wall.Projections 98 and 99 are formed on the same side wall 72, its lengthmeasured perpendicular to the side wall are longer than ¼ of distancebetween said side walls and shorter than distance between said sidewalls.

When the projections are formed slanted to direction concerning with thefringe of the side wall, for example downward in the drawing, namelywhere the position of the tip of the projection is lower than theposition of the root of the projection as shown in FIG. 16, the holdingequipment becomes for optical fiber more easy to be installed. When theprojections are closely placed as the two roots of projection arecontacted or space between two roots of projection is narrower thandiameter of a root of the projection, some kind of parts can be holdbetween the closely placed projections. And as similar to the case ofFIG. 13, when length of projection measured perpendicular to the sidewall is longer than one half of distance between said side walls, it canprevent effectively for optical fiber unwinding and coming out from theholding equipment.

In addition, projection explained in FIG. 13˜FIG. 16 can be placed asprojection explained in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.

FIG. 17˜FIG. 20 are drawings that explain holding equipment for opticalfiber as example of embodiment of the present invention, explain exampleof holding equipment for optical fiber comprising two side walls havingthree convex portion for each side wall as example of processed portion,where projections are formed on only one side wall of said two sidewalls. FIG. 17 is a drawing that shows a half of holding equipment foroptical fiber of the present invention, viewing from perpendiculardirection to the side wall, FIG. 18 is a cross section where holdingequipment for optical fiber is cut at line 1A-1B shown in FIG. 17, FIG.19 is a cross section that explains state of holding ribbon fiber,wherein plural buffered fiber were put side by side and formed intoribbon, installed in holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention, which is enlarged optical fiber holding area shown in FIG.18, FIG. 20 is a cross section that explains state of unwinding ribbonfiber held in the holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention.

In FIG. 17˜FIG. 20, reference symbol 700 indicates holding equipment foroptical fiber of the present invention, reference symbol 701 indicateselastic core of reel constructing holding equipment 700 for opticalfiber, reference symbol 701 a indicates outside portion of core of reelas outside surface of core of reel 701, reference symbol 701 b indicatesline to show the position of outside portion 701 a, reference symbols707 and 708 indicate elastic side wall connected to core of reel 701,reference symbol 702 indicates hollow portion formed inside part of coreof reel 701, side wall 707 and side wall 708, reference symbols 703A,703B, 703C, 703D, 703E, 703F, 703G, 703H, 7031, 703J, 703K, 703L, 703Mindicate mark indicating position of elastic projections (in FIG. 17,can not see because of placed on backside of side wall 707) that isplaced on side wall 707 and protrude from side wall 707 toward side wall708, and hereinafter, there are also cases to show projection itself.Also, hereinafter, reference symbol 703 also indicates sometimes each ofprojection 703A, 703B, 703C, 703D, 703E, 703F, 703G, 703H, 7031,703J,703K, 703L, 703M or general term of them. Reference symbols 704 a, 705a, 706 a indicate convex portion as processed portion formed on sidewall 707, Reference symbols 704 b, 705 b, 706 b indicate convex portionas processed portion formed on side wall 708, in addition, processedportion 704 a and 704 b, processed portion 705 a and 705 b, processedportion 706 a and 706 b are symmetrical layout with respect to a planewhich is intermediate between side wall 707 and side wall 708respectively, hereinafter, reference symbol 704, 705, 706 indicatesometimes each of one symmetrical pair of processed portion 704 a and704 b, processed portion 705 a and 705 b, processed portion 706 a and706 b or general term of them. Reference symbol 709 indicates opticalfiber holding area which is formed with core of reel 701, side wall 707and 708 and projections 703, reference symbol 710 indicates opticalfiber installed into the holding equipment for optical fiber of thepresent invention, reference symbol 710 a indicates the first one turnof the installed optical fiber which is wound first, reference symbol710 b indicates a part of optical fiber 710 except the first one turn710 a. Reference symbol 711 a indicates a drawing out part which is nearportion to a terminal of the first one turn of optical fiber 710 that iswound first, reference symbol 711 b indicates a drawing out part as nearportion to a terminal that locate the other side of the drawing out part711 a.

In FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, projections 703 are placed equivalent intervalseach other and at the equivalent distance from the outside portion ofcore of reel 701 a, and core of reel 701, side wall 707, 708,projections 703 and processed portion 704, 705, 706 are formed in onebody by one-piece molding technology using elastomers, intending toelastic body. Furthermore, processed portion 704, 705, 706 areprocessed, as a suitable example, by heat treatment after coatedsaturated polymer surface reform processing material on at least a partof the surface of the side wall. Processed portion 704 is formed alonginnermost position, namely interior of side wall 707 and 708. Processedportion 705 is formed on side wall 707 and 708, at the position that isoutside part of the side wall and corresponding to the outside portionof core of reel 701 a and corresponding to inside part of the portionwhere the projections are placed. Processed portion 706 is formed insuch place where inner fringe of the processed portion is at a positioncorresponding to the center of projection 703 and outer fringe of theprocessed portion is at slightly inner position from fringe of the sidewall 707, 708.

Projection 703 is formed protruded from side wall 707 toward side wall708, is formed perpendicular to the side wall 707, or slanted as formingspecified angle specified angle θa with the perpendicular line of theside wall 707 measured toward the outside portion of core of reel 701 a,or slanted as forming specified angle θb with the perpendicular line ofthe side wall 707 measured to the perpendicular line of the side wall707 along fringe direction of the side wall, or slanted as both of saidangle θa and angle θb are exist. It is desirable that above specifiedangle θa and θb are smaller than 10 from easy handling and hardunwinding point of view.

It is desirable that length as height of projection 703 measuredperpendicular to the side wall 707 toward side wall 708 is longer than ¼of distance between side wall 707 and side wall 708, then the holdingequipment can be used for wider applications. In addition, when itslength is longer than ½ of distance between side wall 707 and side wall708 and is shorter as 0.05˜0.15 mm than distance between side wall 707and side wall 708, the holding equipment can show such noticeable effectthat it is easy to install, easy to attach collimator to the fiber usingthe holding equipment in which the fiber is installed, easy to processvaporized deposition of antireflective layer on the terminal surface ofthe fiber, and there is no fear of coming out the optical fiber woundinto the holding equipment from the holding equipment due to fall of theholding equipment by accident during handled.

FIG. 19 is a drawing that explains state of ribbon fiber installed inholding equipment for optical fiber. In FIG. 19, optical fiber 710 isinstalled in such state that the first one turn 710 a of the opticalfiber is installed close to side wall 708 side and a part 710 b which isa part of optical fiber 710 excepted the part 710 a is installed closeto side wall 707 side.

FIG. 20 is a drawing that explains more detailed state shown in FIG. 19.In FIG. 20, a drawing out part 711 a is coming out through side wall 708side of optical fiber holding area 709, a drawing out part 71 b iscoming out through side wall 707 side of optical fiber holding area 709to out side of the optical fiber holding area.

When optical fiber 710 is installed into the holding equipment foroptical fiber explained using FIG. 17˜FIG. 20, the beginning part of theoptical fiber to be wound is pressed on the projection 703 and that partof the projection 703 is bent, and optical fiber 710 is put into opticalfiber holding area 709, then optical fiber 710 is wound to outsideportion of core of reel 701 a. When optical fiber installed in opticalfiber holding area 709 is taking out, the optical fiber is unwound outby holding the drawing out part 711 a or 711 b.

When thus optical fiber 710 of ribbon fiber is installed into theholding equipment for optical fiber explained using FIG. 17˜FIG. 20, dueto forming such optical fiber holding area 709 where side wall 707 andside wall 708 are formed parallel each other, distance between side wall707 and side wall 708 is slightly larger than two times of a width ofthe ribbon fiber, and existing of drawing out part 711 a, entangling ofoptical fiber 710 can be avoid in such way that by pulling drawing outpart 711 a after winding the fiber into the optical fiber holding area709, the first one turn 710 a of optical fiber is pressed to side wall708 side and remaining part of optical fiber 710 except the first oneturn 710 a is pressed to side wall 708 side orderly.

By making the projection 703 of appropriately flexible materials,optical fiber can be drawing out from either terminal side.

In addition, due to existing of processed portion 704, 705, 706, many ofthe holding equipment for optical fiber of the present invention can betreated piled up without fear of clinging firmly each other, and a largequantity of the holding equipment for optical fiber can be installed insmall space.

FIG. 21˜FIG. 24 are drawings that explain holding equipment for opticalfiber as example of embodiment of the present invention, explain exampleof holding equipment for optical fiber comprising two side walls havingtwo convex portion respectively as processed portion and projectionsformed on both side walls. FIG. 21 is a drawing that shows a half ofholding equipment for optical fiber of the present invention, viewingfrom perpendicular direction to the side wall, FIG. 22 is a crosssection where holding equipment for optical fiber is cut at line 1C-1Dshown in FIG. 21, FIG. 23 is a cross section where optical fiber holdingarea around shown in FIG. 22 is enlarged, FIG. 24 is a cross sectionthat explains manufacturing method of the projection placed on the sidewall of holding equipment for optical fiber of the present invention.

In FIG. 21 FIG. 24, reference symbol 750 indicates holding equipment foroptical fiber of the present invention, reference symbol 751 indicateselastic core of reel constructing holding equipment 750 for opticalfiber, reference symbol 751 a indicates outside portion of core of reel751 as outside surface of core of reel, reference symbols 757 and 758indicate elastic side walls, reference symbol 752 indicates hollowportion formed inside part of core of reel 751, side wall 757 and sidewall 758, reference symbols 753A, 753B, 753C, 753D, 753E, 753F, 753G,753H, 7531, 753J, 753K, 753L, 753M indicate mark indicating position ofelastic projections that is placed on side wall 757, and hereinafter,there are also cases to show projection itself. Also, hereinafter,reference symbol 753 indicates sometimes each of projection 753A, 753B,753C, 753D, 753E, 753F, 753G, 753H, 7531, 753J, 753K, 753L, 753M orgeneral term of them. Reference symbols 754A, 754B, 754C, 754D, 754E,754F, 754G, 754H, 7541, 754J, 754K, 754L, 754M indicate mark indicatingposition of elastic projections that is placed on side wall 758, andhereinafter, there are also cases to show projection itself. Also,hereinafter, reference symbol 754 indicates sometimes each of projection754A, 754B, 754C, 754D, 754E, 754F, 754G, 754H, 7541, 754J, 754K, 754L,754M or general term of them. Reference symbols 755 a, 756 a indicateconvex portion as processed portion formed on side wall 757, referencesymbols 755 b, 756 b indicate convex portion as processed portion formedon side wall 758, in addition, processed portion 755 a and 755 b,processed portion 756 a and 756 b are symmetrical layout with respect toa plane which is intermediate between side wall 757 and side wall 758respectively, hereinafter, reference symbol 755, 756 indicate sometimeseach of one symmetrical pair of processed portion 755 a and 755 b,processed portion 756 a and 756 b or general term of them. Referencesymbol 759 indicates optical fiber holding area which is formed withcore of reel 751, side wall 757, 758 and projections 753, 754, referencesymbol 760 indicates attaching part formed at interior surface of coreof reel 751. Reference symbols 770, 771 indicate side walls, referencesymbols 772 a, 773 a indicate convex portion as processed portion formedon side wall 770, reference symbols 772 b, 773 b indicate convex portionas processed portion formed on side wall 771, reference symbol 779indicates elastic core of reel, reference symbol 774 indicates attachingpart formed at interior surface of core of reel 779, reference symbol778 indicates projection formed on side wall 771 constructed withportion indicated by reference symbols 775˜777 which will be describedlater, reference symbol 775 indicates tip of projection 778, referencesymbol 776 indicates middle part of projection 778, reference symbol 777indicates base part of projection 778.

In FIG. 21 and FIG. 22, each of projections 753 and each of projections754 are placed equivalent intervals each other on the circle of whichthe center is the center of each side wall respectively, in such waythat, for example like projection 753A and projection 754A, projection753B and projection 754B, each two of neighbor projections showsequivalent interval. Core of reel 751, side walls 757, 758, projections753 and projections 754 are formed in one body by one-piece moldingtechnology using elastomers.

Processed portion 755, 756 are processed by surface processing and/orheat treatment, then they do not cling firmly each other when they arepressed. Processed portion 755 is formed along innermost position sidewall 757 and 758, namely interior of side wall 757 and 758, and placedslightly inner position of outside portion of core of reel on side wall757 and 758. Processed portion 756 is formed in such place where innerfringe of the processed portion 756 is placed slightly outer positionthan the position corresponding to the center of projection 753, 754,and outer fringe of the processed portion 756 is placed slightly innerposition from fringe of the side wall 757, 758.

Projection 753 is formed protruded from side wall 757 toward side wall758, is formed perpendicular to the side wall 757, or slanted as formingspecified angle θc with the perpendicular line of the side wall 757measured toward the outside portion of core of reel 751 a, or slanted asforming specified angle θd measured to the perpendicular line of theside wall 757 along fringe direction of the side wall, or slanted asboth of said angle θc and angle θd are exist. It is desirable that abovespecified angle θc and θd are smaller than 10, when angle θc and θd are5˜10°, it can realize holding equipment showing such excellentcharacteristics as easy to install even by weak force and to preventreliably unwinding optical fiber installed in that.

In FIG. 23, attaching part 760 is a ditch or slit formed at the middleof interior surface of core of reel 751, the construct, for an examplering of metal, can be inserted into the ditch to reinforce the holdingequipment for optical fiber of the present invention. Due to that, theholding equipment becomes hard to deform, easy to be used for many kindof automatic machine.

Projection 753 and 754 look as contact in FIG. 23, but in practice theyare separated as shown in FIG. 21. It is desirable that length as heightof projection 753 measured perpendicular to the side wall 757 towardside wall 758 is longer than ¼ of distance between side wall 757 andside wall 758, then the holding equipment can be used for widerapplications. In addition, when its length is longer than ½ of distancebetween side wall 757 and side wall 758 and is shorter as 0.05˜0.15 mmthan distance between side wall 757 and side wall 758, the holdingequipment can show such noticeable effect that it is easy for opticalfiber to be installed in the case of buffered fiber, easy to be attachedcollimator to the fiber using the holding equipment in which the fiberis installed, easy to be processed for vaporized deposition ofantireflective layer on the terminal surface of the fiber, and it iseffectively prevented for optical fiber wound into the holding equipmentto come out from the holding equipment on account of fall of the holdingequipment by accident during handled. About length of projection 754, itis the same as case of projection 753. When sum total length of oneprojection 753 and one projection 754 is longer as 0.05˜0.24 mm thanspace between side wall 757 and side wall 758, the holding equipment foroptical fiber which is easy to be used and has especially highreliability can be realized, for example when sum total length of saidboth projections is 1.14 mm for 0.93 mm of the space between side wall757 and side wall 758, the holding equipment for optical fiber showingcan show high reliability.

Shape of cross section of the projection in the direction where theprojection protrude, like projection 703, is a stick styled projection,when all of the projections are placed only on one side wall of a pairof side walls which are placed in opposition each other, almost the samebigness of projection is available from the vicinity of the root to thevicinity of the tip, the shape of the vicinity of the root is raising upas arc from the surface of side wall 707, the shape of the tip ishemisphere. Such shape shows such preferable effect as excellence inwork and high reliability of handling.

When the projections are placed on both side wall of a pair of sidewalls which are placed in opposition each other as projections 753 and754, it is desirable to form projection becoming thinner gradually fromroot toward tip, for example in cross section of FIG. 23, to formprojection becoming thinner gradually from root toward tip as bothoutline 7531 and 7532 making angle 2˜15° and to form the tip part intoroundness like a part of sphere. The raising up part, namely thevicinity of the root of the projection is desirable to be formed raisingup with shape of roundness like a part of sphere. Because of such shapeof the projection, the holding equipment can show such noticeable effectthat it is easy for optical fiber to be installed into it, easy to bedrew out from the optical fiber holding area for necessary length to dosaid works and avoidable to be drew out too long in the work, and it iseffectively prevented for optical fiber wound into the holding equipmentto come out from the holding equipment on account of fall of the holdingequipment by accident during handled. About projection 754 it is thesame as above-mentioned.

In FIG. 24, processed portion 772 a and processed portion 772 b areformed extended from position corresponding to interior surface of coreof reel 779, namely inner fringe of side wall 770 and side wall 771 toposition corresponding to exterior surface 779 a of core of reel 779.Processed portion 773 a and processed portion 773 b are formed slightlyinner side from the outmost fringe of side wall 770 and side wall 771.

Attaching part 774 is a ditch formed at the middle of interior surfaceof core of reel. Application and effect of that is the same as case ofattaching part 760 explained by using FIG. 23.

Projection 778 is an example of projection which can show almost thesame effect as the effect of the projection having desirable shapeexplained by using FIG. 21˜FIG. 23, and to save manufacturing cost.Projection 778 is, as shown in FIG. 24, formed the middle part 776 onthe base part 777, the tip 775 on the middle part 776. Projection 778,side wall 770, 771 and core of reel 779 are formed by one-piece moldingtechnology.

About making molding pattern to forming projection 778, at the first,female pattern is formed into shape of the base part 777, next to it,the middle part of the base part 777 is delved into shape of the middlepart 776, next to it, the middle part of the middle part 776 is delvedcavity into shape of the tip 775, then molding pattern for projection778 is formed. Such shape of molding pattern is relatively easy to bemade, reduction of manufacturing cost can be realized. Thoughcharacteristics of projection having such shape is not completely thesame as that of projection 753, 754, but it shows similarcharacteristics.

It is possible to realize the holding equipment for optical fiber of thepresent invention of which said side wall has such smaller size than 10cm in maximum size in radius direction, or in diameter in a case ofcircular fringe of the side wall. Previously it was considered that tohold optical fiber winding into such compact holding equipment isimpossible in view of said characteristics of the fiber as solidity andeasy to be snapped. But according to research of the inventor of thepresent invention, it is proved that summing additional idea with abovecomposition, the holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention can be realized such smaller diameter of said side wall than10 cm of course, even than 8 cm.

As example of the present invention described using FIG. 21˜FIG. 23, theinventor of the present invention manufactured, by using fluorinatedelastomers which will be described later, 200 pieces of the holdingequipment for optical fiber having following specifications, wherein,diameter of the core of reel was 6.8 cm, diameter of interior surface ofthe core of reel was 6.5 cm, diameter of fringe of the side wall 757 and758 was 7.36 cm, dimension from exterior of the side wall 757 toexterior of the side wall 758, namely thickness of the holding equipmentexcluding said processing part was 2.2 mm, thickness of the holdingequipment including said processing part was 2.6 mm, width of theprocessing part was 0.7 mm, space of the side wall 757 and 758 was 0.93mm, distance from the center of root of the projection 753, 754 tooutside portion of the core of reel was 1.85 mm, diameter of root ofprojection 753, 754 was 0.46 mm, length of projection 753 and projection754 was 0.57 mm, distance from fringe of the side wall to the center ofprojection was 1.1 mm, and the inventor of the present inventionperformed said jobs after installed optical fiber into the holdingequipment, then such results was gotten that quality of job wasexcellent, many kind of process was able to be performed as to attachoptical parts to the terminal of the fiber, to polish of the terminalsurface, to form antireflective layer on the terminal surface of thefiber, to deliver the fiber. During such processing, there were noaccident of snapping for optical fiber which was serious problempreviously. Due to above, working time was remarkably shorten, excellentantireflective layer was able to be formed without problem ofout-gassing in a case of forming antireflective layer, and cost of partswas remarkably reduced. In addition, when a buffered fiber is put intothe holding equipment, automatic winding of the fiber into the holdingequipment was performed by winding machine using stick styled magazineto which several tens of the holding equipments are mounted undercondition of slightly pressed, without aforementioned problem thatplural of the holding equipments cling firmly each other due to saidprocessed portion.

Furthermore, when optical fiber is installed into the holding equipmentfor optical fiber by user's hands, a part of the optical fiber is putand pressed on the projection 753 or the projection 754, and theprojection 753 or the projection 754 is bent toward inner side of theoptical fiber holding area, and the optical fiber is put into opticalfiber holding area 759, and then the optical fiber is wound to outsideportion of core of reel 751 a.

In addition, when side wall 757 and side wall 758 are formed in suchshape that the shape of vicinity of fringe of each side wall has outlineof arc in the cross section shown in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 and spacebetween side wall 757 and side wall 758 is becoming wider from positionwhere the projection is formed toward outside direction of the holdingequipment, above-mentioned change of the space between side wall 757 andside wall 758 plays a role of guide for winding optical fiber into theholding equipment, and the holding equipment shows such remarkableeffect that, for example, to wind into the holding equipment becomeseasy, and user can wind optical fiber into the holding equipment bymachine very accurately and at high-speed.

While such optical fiber wound into the holding equipment for opticalfiber having above-mentioned measure for the outside portion of core ofreel and the fringe of side wall intend to unwind to larger diameter,due to effect of suitable structure of the holding equipment for opticalfiber of the present invention, especially effect of the elasticprojections 753 and 754, the optical fiber is being kept in the holdingequipment for optical fiber without unwinding spontaneously due toeffect of suitable structure of the holding equipment for optical fiberof the present invention, especially effect of the elastic projections753 and 754. In addition, in a case of the holding equipment for opticalfiber of the present invention, it is not needed that the optical fiberis fixed by compulsion using tape to be kept in regular shape, as neededin the conventional case, furthermore, if pulling force is exercisedover the optical fiber during work, it does not occur that the opticalfiber is bent to smaller diameter than diameter of the outside portionof core of reel and there is no fear of snapping of the optical fiber asoccurred in conventional case. In addition, since the optical fiber isnot pulled out from the holding equipment except necessary length of itduring work, there is no fear of jumbling of the fiber in handling forprocessing, and it does not need large space for work.

As described above, in a case where the optical fiber is being held inthe holding equipment explained using FIG. 21˜FIG. 23, the optical fiberheld in the holding equipment is easily drew out, by constructingprojections 753 and 754 using appropriately flexible material.Furthermore, due to existing of processed portion 755, 756, when many ofthe holding equipment for optical fiber of the present invention can bekept in custody piled up without fear of clinging firmly each other, orthe optical fiber is wound into the holding equipment for optical fiber,wherein many of the holding equipment for optical fiber is mounted tothe magazine of a optical fiber winding machine, a large quantity ofoptical fiber can be treated using small apace without fear of clingingfirmly for holding equipment each other.

The shape of projection in examples of embodiment of the presentinvention as explained with reference to the drawings FIG. 1˜FIG. 23,being obvious from drawings and its explanation, can be applied toprojections having slender shape, for example a shape like a pole or aflat shape, in addition, it is obvious from drawings and a part of itsexplanation that the present invention can be also applied toprojections having other shape. In the present invention, the projectionis applicable to elastic projection, for example, as so-called beltstyled projection which has such size at the position where theprojection is placed that size of the projection measured along thefringe of the wall is lager than size of the projection measured towardthe radius of the wall (namely depth of the projection) and length ofthe projection is shorter than size of the projection measured along thefringe of the wall.

In a case where the belt styled projection is used, it is desirable fromwinding and unwinding point of view of the fiber that size of theprojection measured along the fringe of the side wall is less than ahalf of size of the fringe of side wall measured along the fringe of theside wall at the position where the projection is placed, especially thesize is less than one fourth of that, and the projection is usedtogether with said slender shaped projection.

FIG. 25 is a drawing that explains an example of conventional ribbonfiber used in an explanation about the holding equipment for opticalfiber of the present invention with FIG. 19 and FIG. 23, and is a crosssection where the ribbon optical fiber is cut perpendicularly to thelength direction of the fiber. The ribbon optical fiber in the drawingis a fiber which is packaged four buffered fibers putting them side byside and covered with resin in tape state.

In FIG. 25, reference symbol 300 indicates ribbon optical fiber, symbols301˜304 indicate buffered fiber, reference symbol 305 indicates coatedlayer, reference symbol Tp indicates thickness of the ribbon opticalfiber, reference symbol Wp indicates width of the ribbon optical fiber.

In a case of installing of 4-ribbon fiber having such size that width Wpis 1˜1.1 mm, thickness Tp is 0.3 mm into the holding equipment foroptical fiber of the present invention explained using FIG. 17˜FIG. 24,when width of the optical fiber holding area, namely space between 2side walls, is wider as 0.4˜0.6 mm than width of the ribbon fiber and is2˜2.5 times of width of the ribbon fiber, winding and unwinding of theribbon fiber is performed very smoothly.

Thickness of 8-ribbon fiber is 0.3 mm and width of it is 2˜2.2 mm, andin addition to that as ribbon fiber there are many kinds of ribbon fiberlike 2-ribbon fiber, 12-ribbon fiber and width of them are differentwhile thickness of them are almost the same. To consider above-mentionedfact is useful when the holding equipment is used for ribbon fiber.

A holding unit having an optical fiber holding area which comprises sidewalls placed in opposition each other and elastic projections placed onat least one said side wall as explained using FIG. 1˜FIG. 24,hereinafter, is also referred to as the first holding unit.

Furthermore, followings are explanation about example of the holdingequipment comprising the second holding unit having another opticalfiber holding area in addition to the first holding unit having anoptical fiber holding area which comprises said elastic projectionsplaced in the vicinity of fringe of the side wall explained using FIG.1˜FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a cross section that explains an example of the holdingequipment for optical fiber as an example of embodiment of the presentinvention, wherein the holding equipment is constructed by combinationof two optical fiber holding area each of that has side walls at least apair of which are monotonous board and placed in opposition each other,and elastic projections placed in the vicinity of fringe of at least oneside wall, and the optical fiber is installed through the space betweenfringes of side walls, as explained using FIG. 1˜FIG. 24.

In FIG. 26, reference symbol 613 indicates holding equipment for opticalfiber of the present invention, reference symbol 171 indicates core ofreel, reference symbols 172, 173 indicate side walls placed byconnecting with core of reel or closing to core of reel, and placed inopposition each other, reference symbols 174 a and 174 b indicateelastic projections formed sticking out from side wall 172 toward sidewall 173, also, hereinafter, reference symbol 174 indicates sometimeseach of projection 174 a, 174 b, and other projections, not shown in thedrawing, placed in the vicinity of fringe of side wall 172 or generalterm of them. Reference symbol 175 indicates outside surface of core ofreel 171, reference symbol 176 indicates the first optical fiber holdingarea which is hollow portion formed with outside surface of core of reel175, side wall 172 and 173 and projections 174, reference symbol 183indicates the first holding unit constructed with the parts indicatedreference symbols 171˜176, reference symbol 177 indicates core of reel,reference symbols 178 and 179 indicate side walls placed by connectingwith core of reel 177 or closing to core of reel 177, and placed inopposition each other, reference symbols 180 a and 180 b indicateelastic projections formed sticking out from side wall 178 toward sidewall 179. Also, reference symbol 180 indicates sometimes each ofprojection 180 a, 180 b, and other projections, not shown in thedrawing, placed in the vicinity of fringe of side wall 178 or generalterm of them. Reference symbol 181 indicates outside surface of core ofreel 177, reference symbol 182 indicates the second optical fiberholding area which is hollow portion formed with outside surface of coreof reel 181, side wall 178 and 179 and projections 180, reference symbol184 indicates the second holding unit constructed with the partsindicated reference symbols 177˜182, reference symbol 185 indicatesunit-connection-part to connect the first holding unit 183 and thesecond holding unit 184, reference symbol 186 indicates attaching partto mount the holding unit 184 to unit-connection-part 185, referencesymbol 187 indicates attaching part to mount the holding unit 183 tounit-connection-part 185, reference symbol 188 indicates gap between thefirst holding unit 183 and the second holding unit 184. Gap 188 isformed according to application of holding equipment for optical fiber.

Into the first holding unit 183 optical fiber is mainly installed bywound and into the second holding unit 184 parts attached to the opticalfiber are installed, and the optical fiber can travel between the firstholding unit 183 and the second holding unit 184 through ditch or slitformed at the side wall 173 and 179. Reference symbol 189 indicateshollow portion formed at the center part of side wall 172, 173, 178, 179and unit-connection-part 185 which locate at the center part of core ofreel 171 and 177.

In FIG. 26, the first holding unit 183 comprising core of reel 171, sidewalls 172 and 173, projections 174, outside surface of core of reel 175,and the second holding unit comprising core of reel 177, side walls 178and 179, projections 180, outside surface of core of reel 181 are madeof elastomer such as silicone elastomer, fluorinated elastomer. Thefirst holding unit 183 and the second holding unit 184 are connected inone body by using unit-connection-part. Unit-connection-part isconstructed with plastic product.

In a case where optical fiber is installed into the holding equipmentfor optical fiber constructed by using the side wall having ditches orslits explained using FIG. 7 for at least one side wall of side wall172, 173, 178, 179 in FIG. 26, for example, when the side wall havingditches or slits are used for side wall 173 and 179, optical fiber iswound into one of the first holding unit 183 and the second holding unit184, and in the necessity the optical fiber can travel from one to theother holding unit through the ditch or slit formed in said side wall173 and 179, then the optical fiber can be installed into one of theholding units and a part attached to the terminal of the fiber and/orother parts attached to the fiber can be installed into the otherholding unit, and the holding equipment for optical fiber can be formedsmall and easy to be used.

In addition, it is obvious from the explanation about the presentinvention that other side wall than the side wall explained using FIG. 7are available for side wall explained using FIG. 26. As an suitableexample of the side wall having ditches or slits explained using FIG. 7,it is especially desirable that width of the ditch or slit, namelymeasure from one end to the other end, is larger than 15° of the centerangle being formed against the center of the side wall, number ofditches or slits is four and the side wall is made of elastomers, forthe optical fiber to be wound easily, to be able to prevent snapping ofthe fiber in handling, and to be able to keep the shape of the holdingequipment for optical fiber. In an example of FIG. 26, it is desirablethat the ditch or slit is formed at the same position on the side wall173 and 179 respectively. In addition, by forming the first holding unit183 and the second holding unit 184 such as each depth of them aredifferent, namely each thickness of core of reel are different,installing of the optical fiber and attached parts can be performed moreeffectively.

FIG. 27 is a cross section that explains an example of the holdingequipment for optical fiber as an example of embodiment of the presentinvention, wherein the holding equipment comprises one optical fiberholding area which has elastic projections placed in the vicinity offringe of side wall, as explained using FIG. 1˜FIG. 24, and one opticalfiber holding area which has not elastic projection.

In FIG. 27, reference symbol 614 indicates holding equipment for opticalfiber of the present invention, reference symbol 191 indicates core ofreel, reference symbols 192 and 193 indicate side walls placed byconnecting with core of reel or closing to core of reel, and placed inopposition each other, reference symbols 194 a and 194 b indicateelastic projections formed on side wall 192 sticking out from side wall192 toward side wall 193. Hereinafter, reference symbol 194 indicatessometimes each of projection 194 a, 194 b and other projections, notshown in the drawing, placed in the vicinity of fringe of side wall 192or general term of them. Reference symbol 195 indicates outside surfaceof core of reel 191, reference symbol 196 indicates the first opticalfiber holding area which is hollow portion formed with outside surfaceof core of reel 195, side walls 192 and 193 and projections 194,reference symbol 190 indicates the first holding unit constructed withthe parts indicated reference symbols 191˜195, reference symbol 200indicates the second optical fiber holding area which is formed withcore of reel 197, side wall 198 and side wall 199 and connected to thefirst optical fiber holding area 190, reference symbol 201 indicates thesecond holding unit comprises core of reel 191 and side walls 198, 199,reference symbol 202 indicates unit-connection-part to connect the firstholding unit 190 and the second holding unit 201, reference symbol 203indicates attaching part to mount the second holding unit 201 tounit-connection-part 202, reference symbol 204 indicates attaching partto mount the holding unit 190 to unit-connection-part 202, referencesymbol 205 indicates gap between the first holding unit 190 and thesecond holding unit 201, reference symbol 197 a indicates outsidesurface of core of reel 197. Gap 205 is formed according to applicationof holding equipment for optical fiber.

In FIG. 27, the first holding unit 190 comprising core of reel 191, sidewalls 192 and 193, projections 194, outside surface of core of reel 195is made of elastomer, and the second holding unit 201 comprising core ofreel 197, side wall 198 and side wall 199 is constructed with plasticproduct. The first holding unit 190 and the second holding unit 201 areconnected in one body by using unit-connection-part 202.

According to construct the holding equipment for optical fiber in suchway where at least two side walls of side wall 192, 193, 198, 199 areformed as the same side walls having ditch or slit as explained usingFIG. 7 and FIG. 26, not shown in the drawings, inside parts, namelyinterior, of core of reel 191 and core of reel 197 are formed of thesame shape and diameter each other, and thickness of core of reel 197 isthinner than thickness of core of reel 191, the optical fiber can beinstalled mainly into the first holding unit 190 and terminal parts andattaching parts in a case of existing can be installed mainly into thesecond holding unit 201, and the holding equipment for optical fiber canbe formed small and easy to be used. The characteristics of ditch orslit formed in the side wall and its application are the same as case ofFIG. 26.

When optical fiber is installed into the holding equipment for opticalfiber 614 which is constructed as shown in FIG. 27, the optical fiberwound to the outside surface of core of reel 195 and intending to unwindto larger diameter is held by projections 194 and kept to be held in theoptical fiber holding area 196 without unwinding spontaneously.

FIG. 28 is a cross section that explains a holding equipment for opticalfiber as an example of embodiment of the present invention, wherein theholding equipment comprises one optical fiber holding area which hassaid elastic projections placed in the vicinity of fringe of side wall,as explained using FIG. 1˜FIG. 24, and one optical fiber holding areawhich has not elastic projection, and is an example in which the firstholding unit and the second holding unit are formed in one body usingone-piece molding technology where elastomer like synthetic rubber ismolded into pattern.

In FIG. 28, reference symbol 615 indicates holding equipment for opticalfiber of the present invention, reference symbol 211 indicates core ofreel, reference symbols 212, 213 and 217 indicate side walls formed inone body with core of reel 211 and placed in opposition each other,reference symbols 214 a and 214 b indicate elastic projections formed onside wall 212 sticking out from side wall 212 toward side wall 213.Reference symbol 214 indicates sometimes each of projection 214 a, 214 band other projections which are, not shown in the drawing, formedsticking out from side wall 212 toward side wall 213 and placed in thevicinity of fringe of side wall 212 or general term of them. Referencesymbol 215 a indicates the first outside surface of core of reel 211between side wall 212 and side wall 213, reference symbol 216 indicatesan optical fiber holding area as the first optical fiber holding areawhich is hollow portion formed with outside surface of core of reel 215a, side walls 212 and 213 and projections 214, reference symbol 215 bindicates the second outside surface of core of reel 211 between sidewall 213 and side wall 217, reference symbol 218 indicates the secondoptical fiber holding area formed with side wall 213, side wall 217 andoutside surface 215 b of core of reel, reference symbol 219 indicatesthe first holding unit comprising the parts indicated reference symbols211˜214 and 215 a, reference symbol 220 indicates the second holdingunit constructed with the parts indicated reference symbols 213, 215 band 217. Application of the first holding unit 219 and the secondholding unit 220 and its effect are the same as the case FIG. 26, FIG.27. Reference symbol 221 indicates hollow portion formed at the centerportion of core of reel 211.

FIG. 29 is a cross section that explains a holding equipment for opticalfiber as an example of embodiment of the present invention, wherein theholding equipment comprises two optical fiber holding area which havesaid elastic projections placed in the vicinity of fringe of side wall,as explained using FIG. 1 FIG. 24, and one optical fiber holding areawhich has not elastic projection and is placed between said two opticalfiber holding area.

In FIG. 29, reference symbol 612 indicates holding equipment for opticalfiber of the present invention, reference symbol 141 indicates the firstcore of reel constructing holding equipment for optical fiber of thepresent invention 612, reference symbols 142 and 143 indicate side wallsplaced by connecting with core of reel 141 or closing to core of reel,and placed in opposition each other, reference symbols 144 a and 144 bindicate elastic projections formed on side wall 142 sticking out fromside wall 142 toward side wall 143, reference symbol 144 indicatessometimes each of projection 144 a, 144 b and other projections, notshown in the drawing, placed in the vicinity of fringe of side wall 142and playing the same role as projections 144 a, 144 b or general term ofthem. Reference symbol 145 indicates outside surface of core of reel141, reference symbol 146 indicates the first optical fiber holding areawhich is hollow portion formed with outside surface of core of reel 145,side walls 142 and 143 and projections 144, reference symbol 153indicates the first holding unit comprising the parts indicatedreference symbols 141˜145, reference symbol 147 indicates the secondcore of reel constructing holding equipment for optical fiber of thepresent invention, reference symbols 148 and 149 indicate side wallsplaced by connecting with core of reel 147 or combining with core ofreel, and placed in opposition each other, reference symbols 150 a and150 b indicate elastic projections formed on side wall 148 sticking outfrom side wall 148 toward side wall 149. Reference symbol 150 indicatessometimes each of projection 150 a, 150 b and other projections, notshown in the drawing, placed in the vicinity of fringe of side wall 148or general term of them. Reference symbol 151 indicates outside surfaceof core of reel 147, reference symbol 152 indicates the third opticalfiber holding area which is hollow portion formed with outside surfaceof core of reel 151, side wall 148 and 149 and projection 150, referencesymbol 154 indicates the third holding unit constructing with the partsindicated reference symbols 147˜151, reference symbol 160 indicates thesecond optical fiber holding area formed with core of reel 155, sidewall 156 and side wall 157, reference symbol 161 indicates the secondholding unit comprising core of reel 155, side wall 156 and 157,unit-connection-part 158 and 159, and connected or combined with holdingunit 153 and 154, reference symbol 158 indicates unit-connection-partbetween the second holding unit 161 and the first holding unit 153,reference symbol 159 indicates unit-connection-part between the secondholding unit 161 and the third holding unit 154, reference symbol 162indicates attaching part to mount the third holding unit 154 to thesecond holding unit 161, reference symbol 163 indicates attaching partto mount the first holding unit 153 and the third holding unit 154 tothe second holding unit 161, reference symbol 164 indicates gap betweenthe first holding unit 153 and the second holding unit 161, referencesymbol 165 indicates gap between the third holding unit 154 and thesecond holding unit 161. There are cases where the gap 164, 165 are notnecessary and cases where suitable gaps 164, 165 are convenient for someapplications.

The optical fiber can travel between the first holding unit 153 and thesecond holding unit 161 through ditch or slit, for example as explainedusing FIG. 29, formed at the side wall 143 and 157, and the opticalfiber can travel between the third holding unit 154 and the secondholding unit 161 through ditch or slit formed at corresponding position(namely, the same position) of side wall 149 and 156.

Reference symbol 166 indicates a hollow portion formed at the centerpart of core of reel 155 that is placed at the center part of side wall142, 143, 148, 149, 156 and 157. The thickness of core of reel 141, coreof reel 147 and core of reel 155 can be the same thickness, and, forexample, in a case of optical fiber being wound into holding equipmentfor optical fiber 612 where the optical fiber is such that an opticalcomponent like filter is connected at the middle part of the opticalfiber, namely the first optical fiber and the second fiber havingsuitable length are connected to the both end of the optical component,and connecter is attached at the terminal of the first optical fiber andthe second fiber respectively, when the first optical fiber and thesecond optical fiber are held into the first holding unit and the thirdholding unit by wound respectively, the fiber travels between holdingunits through the ditch or slit formed in the side wall existing betweeneach two holding units, and the optical component is held into thesecond holding unit, then-the holding equipment for optical fiber can beused as a compact, excellently reliable, and excellent to be usedholding equipment for optical fiber to treat relatively short opticalfiber, that could not be expected in conventional holding system. Inabove-mentioned case, by forming such the second holding unit that thespace between the side walls of the second holding unit is wider thanthe space between the side walls of other holding unit and/or the depthof optical fiber holding area of the second holding unit is deep(namely, the thickness of core of reel is thin), the optical componentsand/or connecters can be held compactly.

In FIG. 29, the first holding unit 153 comprising core of reel 141, sidewall 142 and 143, projections 144, outside surface of core of reel 145and the third holding unit 154 comprising core of reel 147, side wall148 and 149, projections 150, outside surface of core of reel 151 aremade of elastomers, and the second holding unit 161 comprising core ofreel 155, side wall 156 and 157, attaching part 158 and 169 is made ofplastic. Furthermore, for some application, it is more effective thatthe second holding unit is made of metal such as aluminum, titaniumalloy, magnesium alloy, stainless steel.

The first holding unit 153 and the second holding unit 161, and thethird holding unit 154 and the second holding unit 161 are connected inone body by unit-connection-part 158 and 159 respectively.

The first holding unit 153 and the third holding unit 154 are placedsymmetrically with respect to the second holding unit 161, and suchconstruction can reduce manufacturing cost.

When optical fiber is installed into the holding equipment for opticalfiber, as shown in FIG. 29, in which diameter of outer fringe of theside walls of the first and the second holding unit is 75 mmrespectively, diameter of the core of reel is 69 mm, the optical fiberwound to the outside surface of core of reel 145 and/or 151 andintending to unwind to out side direction is held by projections 144and/or 150 respectively and kept to be held in the optical fiber holdingarea 146 and/or 152 without unwinding spontaneously.

In addition, it is obvious from the above and following explanationabout the present invention that other side wall than the side wallexplained using FIG. 7 are available for side wall explained using FIG.29. Furthermore, in a case of side wall made of elastomers, namelysynthetic rubber, when number of ditches or slits shown in FIG. 7 is1˜4, the optical fiber is especially easy to be wound and the holdingequipment for optical fiber can keep its shape.

Followings are explanation about an example of manufacturing offluorinated elastomers which can be used for the present invention.Fluorinated elastomers being used in an example of embodiment of thepresent invention are bridge constructed fluorinated elastomers, thermaltreatment in high temperature will be explained later is performed inits manufacturing process, and for example, compound of fluorinatedelastomers (A1) or thermoplastic fluorinated elastomers (A2) are used.

As compound of fluorinated elastomers (A1), compounds of fluorinatedelastomer made of following fluorinated elastomer by added, innecessity, curing agent, vulcanization promoter, acid accepter, fillerare used.

As fluorinated elastomers, conventional materials can be used widely,for example, followings can be listed up vinylidenefluoride elastomers,tetrafluoroethylene-propylene elastomers,tetrafluoroethylene-perfluorovinylether elastomers, perfluoro-siliconeelastomers, perfluorophosphagen elastomers and so on.

As vinylidenefluoride elastomers, specifically, there are, for example,copolymer elastomers of vinylidenefluoride (Vdf) and hexafluoropropyleneelastomers (HFP) (for example: Viton A-200, DDE Co. Ltd.), copolymerelastomers of vinylidenefluoride and pentafluoropropylene elastomers,copolymer elastomers of vinylidenefluoride and chlorotrifluoroethyleneelastomers, ternary polymerization elastomers of vinylidenefluoride(Vdf), hexafluoropropylene (HFP) and tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) forexample: Viton B, Viton F, GF, DDE Co. Ltd.), astetrafluoroethylene-propylene elastomers, there is, for example,copolymer elastomers of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and propylene (Pr)(for example, Afulas, Asahigalasu Co. Ltd.), astetrafluoroethylene-perfluorovinylether elastomers, there is, forexample, elastomers in which a little monomer for bridge construction isadded to copolymer elastomers of tetrafluoroethylene andperfluorovinylether elastomers, as fluorophosphagen elastomers, thereis, for example, elastomers which is made by reaction of long-chainrubber (PNCl2)n which is made from thermal resolution of trimer ofdichlorophosphonitrile and fluoroalcoholate, and as perfluoro-siliconeelastomers, there is, for example, copolymer elastomers ofmethyltrifluoropropylsiloxane and vinylmethylsiloxane. In suchfluorinated elastomers, vinylidenefluoride elastomers andtetrafluoroethylene-perfluorovinylether elastomers are desirable.

As examples of curing (vulcanizing) agent, there are amine-curing agent(a), polyol-curing agent (b), peroxide-curing agent (c), triazine-curingagent (d), as amine-curing agent (a), specifically, followings can belisted up, for example, hexamethyenediaminecarbamate,N,N′-dicinnamylidene-1,6-hexanediamine, hexamethylenediamine carbamate,and so on, as polyol-curing agent (b), followings can be listed upbisphenol A F, 4,4′-dihydroxylationdiphenyl, and so on, asperoxide-curing agent (c), followings can be listed up, for example,α,α′-bis (t-butylperoxy-m-isopropyl) benzene (Perbutyl: Nofcorpotation),2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(t-butylperoxy) hexane (Perhexa 25B Nofcorpotation),dicumylperoxide (Percumyl D: Nofcorpotation),2,5-dimethyl-2,5-(t-butylperoxy) hexyne-3 (Perhexyne 25B:Nofcorpotation), benzoylperoxide (Nyper B: Nofcorpotation), and so on,as triazine-curing agent (d), triazine can be listed up.

As vulcanization promoter, specifically, followings can be listed up,for example, triallylisocyanurate (Taic: Nipponkasei Chemical Co. Ltd.),ethyleneglycol-dimethacrylate (Sanester EG: Sanshin Chemical Ind. Ltd.),trimethylolpropanetrimethacrylate (Sanester TMP: Sanshin Chemical Ind.Ltd.), polyfunctionalmethacrylatemonomer (Hi-cross M: Seiko Chemical Co.Ltd.), polyhydricalcoholmethacrylate and acrylate, metal acid ofmethacrylate, and so on.

As acid acceptors, specifically, followings can be listed up dihydricoxide, hydroxide or compound of dihydrometalic compound and metallicacid. As dihydric metal, specifically, there are magnesium, calsium,lead, zinc, and so on. Such metals are used as oxide or hydroxide, orcompound with week metal acid such as stearic acid, benzoic acid,carbonic acid, oxalic acid, phosphorous acid and so on.

As such acid acceptors, more specifically, followings can be listed up,for example, Ca (OH)₂, MgO, and so on. As vulcanization accelerator,there are, for example, quaternaryphosphonium salt, quaternaryammoniumsalt, quaternaryammonium salt of 8-alkyl (or,aralkyl)-1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]-7-undecene, aminophosphinic acidderivative and so on.

As filler, specifically, followings can be listed up, for example,carbon black, barium sulfate, titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate,magnesium silicate (talc), aluminum silicate (clay), and so on.

For such compound of fluorinated elastomers, against 100 weight offluorinated elastomers, 0.5˜10 weight of curing agent, desirably 0.5˜5weight of curing agent, 1˜20 weight of vulcanization promoter, desirably3˜10 weight of vulcanization promoter, 1˜40 weight of acid acceptor,desirably 2˜20 weight of acid acceptor, 0.1˜10 weight of vulcanizationaccelerator, desirably 0.3˜2 weight of vulcanization accelerator, 1˜100weight of filler, desirably 5˜40 weight of filler are used.

Processing of such compound of fluorinated elastomers is that, at first,each said component such as curing agent and so on of above-mentionedweight ratio are added to fluorinated elastomers, then they are mixedand kneaded using for example roller. As such compound of fluorinatedelastomers, specifically, followings can be listed up, for example, (x1)compound of fluorinated elastomers comprising vinylidenefluorideelastomers, amine curing agent, acid acceptor, vulcanization acceleratorand filler, (x2) compound of fluorinated elastomers comprisingvinylidenefluoride elastomers, polyol-curing agent, acid acceptor,vulcanization accelerator and filler, (x3) compound of fluorinatedelastomers comprising vinylidenefluoride elastomers, peroxide-curingagent, vulcanization promoter and filler, (x4) compound of fluorinatedelastomers comprising tetrafluoroethylene-perfluorovinyletherelastomers, polyol-curing agent, acid acceptor, vulcanizationaccelerator and filler, (x5) compound of fluorinated elastomerscomprising tetrafluoroethylene-perfluorovinylether elastomers,triazine-curing agent, acid acceptor, vulcanization accelerator andfiller.

Thermoplastic fluorinated elastomers (A2), comprising both of elastomertyped polymer-chain-segment and plastomer typed segment wherein at leastone of them is chain-segment including fluorinated elastomer, showsrubber elasticity at room temperature around and shows plastic mobilitywhen it is heated up.

As such thermoplastic fluorinated elastomer, conventional materials canbe used widely, for example, elastomers comprising fluorinated rubbercomponent (plastomer typed polymer-chain-segment) and fluororesincomponent (elastomer typed polymer-chain-segment) can be listed up.

As elastomer typed polymer-chain-segment, followings can be listed up,(1) ternary polymerization elastomers ofvinylidenefluoride-hexafluoropropylene orpentafluoropropylene-tetrafluoroethylene, wherein in 100 mol % ofcopolymer, 40˜90 mol % of vinylidenefluoride unit, 5˜50 mol % ofhexafluoropropylene or pentafluoropropylene unit, 0˜35 mol % oftetrafluoroethylene unit are included respectively, or (2) ternarypolymerization elastomers ofperfluoroalkylvinylether-tetrafluoroethylene-vinylidenefluoride, whereinin 100 mol % of copolymer, 15˜75 mol % of perfluoroalkylvinylether unit,0˜85 mol % of tetrafluoroethylene unit, 0˜85 mol % of vinylidenefluorideunit are included respectively, and molecular weight of (1) or (2) isapproximately 30˜1200 thousand.

As plastomer typed polymer-chain-segment, followings can be listed up,(3) copolymer of vinylidenefluoride-tetrafluoroethylene, wherein in 100mol % of copolymer, 0˜100 mol % of vinylidenefluoride unit, 0˜100 mol %of tetrafluoroethylene unit are included respectively, or (4)multi-copolymer of ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene,3,3,3-trifluoropropylene-1 or perfluoroalkylvinylether, wherein in 100mol % of copolymer, 40˜60 mol % of ethylene unit, 60˜40 mol % oftetrafluoroethylene unit, 0˜30 mol % of hexafluoropropylene unit areincluded respectively, and molecular weight of (3) or (4) isapproximately 30000˜400 thousand. Concerning thermoplastic fluorinatedelastomers, the details are described in Japanese laid open patentS53-3495 (1978), Japanese applied patent S60-109141 (1985).

In a case of such thermoplastic fluorinated elastomer, ratio ofelastomer typed polymer-chain-segment and plastomer typedpolymer-chain-segment is approximately 40˜95:60˜5 in weight ratio.

Such copolymer of fluororubber and fluororesin, namely, thermoplasticfluorinated elastomers is on sale, for example, Dai-el Thermo (DaikinInd. Co.Ltd.).

We can make a preliminary mold from the thermoplastic fluorinatedelastomers, according to conventional method. We can make it to fillmold of metal having requested pattern with the thermoplasticfluorinated elastomers, heat it and then cool it. In this case, curingagent, filler and so on of above-mentioned may not necessarily be add tosaid elastomers, but depending on a case, such curing agent as polyol,peroxide, and so on can be added.

Requested cured thermoplastic fluorinated elastomers can be made curingthree dimensionally such preliminary mold of the thermoplasticfluorinated elastomers by radioactive ray.

In a case of curing such preliminary mold by radioactive ray, it isexposed generally to 3˜300 K gray of, desirably 70˜200 K gray ofradioactive ray. As radioactive ray, X-ray, gamma ray, electron beam,proton beam, deuteron beam, α-ray, β-ray etc. can be used.

To reduce emission of gas from the elastomers due to its hightemperature treatment in its applications, above-mentioned bridgeconstructed compound of fluorinated elastomers (A1) or thermoplasticfluorinated elastomers (A2) is thermally treated for more than 1 hour at250˜400° C., desirably 8˜24 hours at 260˜270°. However, thermaltreatment in excess of above-mentioned range for fluororubber bringsthermal resolution of fluororubber or deterioration of it. Furthermore,in a case of thermal treatment under 250° C., volatile ingredientincluding in the fluororubber can not be emmited r eliminated, then thefluororubber remains as fluororubber emitting much gas in high vacuumenvironment. In a case of said fluororubber thermally treated in abovedescribed, volume of emitted gas per unit surface area after being held12 hours at normal temperature (25° C.) in vacuum atmosphere of1*10⁻⁵˜1*10⁻⁸ is less than 1*10⁻⁷ Torr·1/sec·cm², desirably less than5·10⁻⁸·1 Torr·1/sec˜cm². As emitted gas, for example, hydrocarbon,water, low molecular composition of base polymer can be listed up.

In a case of fluorinated elastomers, the second cure may be performed,also may not be performed, before thermal treatment of above-mentionedhour and temperature. To use for the present invention, said fluorinatedelastomers can be performed reduced pressure treatment under 100 Torr,desirably under 1 Torr, before said high temperature thermal treatmentor after said high temperature thermal treatment. Such reduced pressuretreatment can be performed more than 0.1 hours desirably more than 0.1hours, at 25˜400° C., desirably 100˜200° C. Over 100 Torr, said reducedpressure treatment is not effective. Further, the pressure of reducedpressure treatment is lower, the hour is shorter and the temperature islower.

Further, for application in the present invention, said curedfluorinated elastomers may contact with solvent before said hightemperature thermal treatment or after said high temperature thermaltreatment. To make contact said cured fluorinated elastomers andsolvent, cured fluorinated elastomers can be dipped into solvent.Through such contact fluorinated elastomers and solvent, some kind ofvolatile components being emitted in application under vacuum atmospherecan be took away beforehand, then volume of emitted gas in applicationunder vacuum atmosphere can be reduced.

As solvent, organic solvent, inorganic solvent, mixed solvent can belisted up. As organic solvent, polar solvent such as acetone,methylethylketon (MEK) and alcohol, nonpolar solvent such as benzene andtoluene can be listed up. In such organic solvent, polar solvent isdesirable. Such polar solvent can easily permeate into the said curedfluorinated elastomers, then component for gas is easily abstracted.

As inorganic solvent, water and so on can be listed up. As mixedsolvent, water-acetone mixed solvent, water-alcohol mixed solvent, andso on can be listed up. In such solvent, water not having problem ofenvironmental pollution is desirably used.

As water, pure water is desirable, especially pure water having higherthan 10⁵ Ω·cm of resistivity measured at 25° C. is desirable. Aboutcontact hour etc. between the solvent and said cured fluorinatedelastomers, it changes due to component of said cured fluorinatedelastomers, sort and concentration of solvent used, and in a case ofusing above-mentioned pure water, for example, the cured fluorinatedelastomers can be contacted with pure water of higher than 25° C.,desirably heated to 95˜100° C., more than 0.1 hours, desirably 0.3˜5hours.

Through above-mentioned process, fluorinated elastomers from whichemission is very low level are realized.

Followings are more specific explanation about an embodiment offluorinated elastomers which can be used for the present invention, butthe present invention is not limited to that example narrowly.

EXAMPLE 1

The compound of fluorinated elastomers having following constituent ismade. Wherein, duality—fluororubber made of vinylidenefluoride andhexafluoropropylene is made (Followings are included in fluororubber 100mole % vinylidenefluoride unit 77 mole %, hexafluoropropylene 23 mole %.Molecular weight of fluororubber is 100,000.):

Fluororubber—100 weight, magnesium oxide—3 weight, carbon black—30weight, calcium hydroxide—6 weight, vulcanization accelerator(quaternaryammonium)—1 weight, curing agent (bisphenol A F)—1 weight.

Above-mentioned compound of fluorinated elastomers is put into mold ofmetal, then the first cure of the compound is performed 10 minutes at170° C., under pressure of 30 Kgf/cm², Consecutively, high temperaturethermal treatment of the compound which is performed the first cure isperformed 16 hours, at 250° C., under atmospheric pressure.

Consequently, the thermally treated fluororubber showed that volume ofemitted gas per O ring surface area after being held 12 hours at normaltemperature in vacuum atmosphere of 1*10⁻⁷˜1*10⁻⁸ was 4.8*10⁻⁸Torr·1/sec·cm².

EXAMPLE 2

High temperature thermal treatment of the compound which is the samecompound as example 1 and is performed the first cure in the same way asexample 1 is performed 16 hours, at 270°0 C., under atmosphericpressure.

Consequently, the thermally treated fluororubber showed that volume ofemitted gas per O ring surface area after being held 12 hours at normaltemperature in vacuum atmosphere of 1*10^(−7˜1*10) ⁻⁸ was 2.3*10⁻⁸Torr·1/sec·cm².

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

A mold was made directly using the compound which is the same compoundas example 1 and is performed the first cure in the same way as example1.

Consequently, the mold showed that volume of emitted gas per O ringsurface area after being held 12 hours at normal temperature in vacuumatmosphere of 1*10⁻⁵˜0.1*10⁻⁵ was 0.41*10⁻⁵ Torr·1/sec·cm².

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2

High temperature thermal treatment of the compound which is the samecompound as example 1 and is performed the first cure in the same way asexample 1 is performed 24 hours, at 230° C., under atmospheric pressure.

Consequently, the thermally treated fluororubber showed that volume ofemitted gas per O ring surface area after being held 12 hours at normaltemperature in vacuum atmosphere of 0.1*10⁻⁵˜1*10⁻⁷ was 2.2*10⁻⁷Torr·1/sec·cm².

It is obvious from above explanation about example 1, example 2,comparative example 1, comparative example 2 that volume of emitted gasof the example 1 and the example 2 are clearly less than volume ofemitted gas of the comparative example 1 and the comparative example 2.

Thus example of fluorinated elastomers being able to be used for thepresent invention has been described in detail. When the elasticprojections, side wall, core of reel which construct the holdingequipment for optical fiber of the present invention are made ofabove-mentioned fluorinated elastomers, such holding equipment foroptical fiber can show such noticeable effect that work to be done underatmospheric pressure which is attaching optical component such ascollimator, filter etc. to the optical fiber, polishing of the terminalsurface of the optical fiber becomes easy by using the holding equipmentfor optical fiber of the present invention held relatively short opticalfiber having length of 20 m or shorter as described above, in addition,above-mentioned holding equipment for optical fiber can show suchnoticeable effect that work to be done in vacuum and high temperatureenvironment such as formation of antireflective layer on the terminalsurface of the fiber in a vacuum vaporized deposition device can be donewithout fear of harm to antireflective layer in its quality due to theemitted gas, consequently, vaporized deposition can be performed bymounting the holding equipment for optical fiber of the presentinvention holding said optical fiber in the vacuum vaporized depositiondevice.

The holding equipments for optical fiber made of above-mentionedfluorinated elastomers are especially desirable examples of the presentinvention which show extremely remarkable effect.

However, the present invention is not narrowly limited toabove-mentioned example. Namely, there are many cases of processing forthe optical fiber having length of 20 m, for example, 2 m, 3 m, 5 mwhere the process does not need vacuum environment. There are caseswhere the fiber should be held in compact size, for example, beforevacuum processing, after vacuum processing, in carrying of completedproducts, in application for automatism. In such cases, as previouslydescribed, the conventional process has difficulties due to absent ofsuitable holding equipment for optical fiber. For such cases, theholding equipments for optical fiber made of said fluorinated elastomersare available, however, there are cases where more inexpensive holdingequipment or holding equipment of different nature are desired.

The present invention meets also such request. The holding equipment foroptical fiber of the present invention can be made by using siliconeelastomers as materials for said elastic parts. By using siliconeelastomers, holding equipment for optical fiber of the present inventionhaving said effects explained in said each embodiment of the presentinvention except application in vacuum environment can be provided.

In addition, metal can be used for components of the holding equipmentfor optical fiber of the present invention. For example, the constructfor reinforcement being inserted to interior of core of reel can be madeof stainless steel, furthermore, optical fiber holding unit can be madeby using aluminum, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy. Due to use suchmetals, the holding equipment for optical fiber of the present inventioncan be applied more widely and life of it becomes longer.

Type of the optical fiber being able to show excellent effect installedinto the holding equipment for optical fiber of the present inventionare many kinds of optical fiber, for example, buffered fiber havingdiameter of 0.25 mm about which is needless to say, core fiber, ribbonfiber, and a result of applied them for the holding equipment foroptical fiber of the present invention showed excellent effect describedabove.

As described above, the holding equipment for optical fiber of thepresent invention can hold the optical fiber having length of 20 m, forexample, 2 m, 3 m, 5 m in compact, and can show excellent effect such aseasy to handle, easy to wind and unwind, no fear of snapping inprocessing, stable against fall, keeping required small sized shape withhigh reliability, furthermore, being able to be used for formingantireflective layer on the terminal surface of the optical fiber invacuum environment. In addition, due to that plural of the holdingequipments do not cling firmly each other when they are piled up undercondition of slightly pressed, machining process and/or automatedprocess can be realized by using the holding equipment for optical fiberof the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, due to said characteristics, the holding equipmentfor optical fiber of the present invention can be widely applied toindustrial field using optical fiber typically optical communication,for example, can be widely used for said many kind of process, storage,caring of relatively short optical fiber used in optical communication,can be widely used for processing of optical fiber having length of 2 m,3 m, 5 m, then, can contribute to the progress of said industrial field.

1. A holding equipment for optical fiber, in which optical fiber can beheld: wherein the holding equipment for optical fiber comprises at leastone holding unit in which optical fiber can be held by being wound, atleast one of said holding unit comprises one pair of side walls whichare placed in opposition each other and plural elastic projectionsplaced on at least one said side wall.
 2. The holding equipment foroptical fiber according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said holdingunit comprises core of reel on which optical fiber can be wound, saidcore of reel is placed by connecting with said side wall or closing tosaid side wall, said projections placed on said at least one side wallof holding unit for optical fiber are placed at locations of said sidewall that is positions, hereinafter, to be also referred to as the innerpart of side wall, namely, positions which are inner side from a fringeof the side wall of holding unit, that is, closer positions to said coreof reel on the side wall, and said projections are formed as elasticprojections which stick out from the side wall toward the opposite sidewall, and by that at least said one pair of side walls, said elasticprojections and said core of reel construct optical fiber holding areain which optical fiber can be held.
 3. The holding equipment for opticalfiber according to claim 2, wherein shape of fringe of said core of reelof at least one of said holding unit on that optical fiber can be woundis circular shape or ellipsoidal shape or polygonal shape.
 4. Theholding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 2, wherein shapeof major part of at least one said side wall of at least one of saidholding unit is flat board state and shape of fringe of said side wallof at least one of said holding unit is circular shape or ellipsoidalshape or polygonal shape.
 5. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 2, wherein at least one said side wall, pluralprojections placed on the wall and core of reel connected to the wallare formed into one-piece.
 6. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 2, wherein plural of said projections have such shapethat shape is a shape, hereinafter, to be also referred to as slendershape, and have such measure that length of the projection sticking outfrom the side wall on which the projection is formed is longer than themaximum measure of cross section of the projection, defining the crosssection of the projection is that crossing at right angles to the centerline of length direction of the projection and the measure of the crosssection is measured as a straight line from one end to the opposite endthrough the center of the cross section.
 7. The holding equipment foroptical fiber according to claim 6, wherein plural of said projectionshave a shape like a pole.
 8. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 6, wherein plural of said projections have a flatshape.
 9. The holding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 6,wherein each of plural of said elastic projections is formed slantedsuch that a length directional mean central axis of said projectionwhich is a imaginary axis, hereinafter, to be also referred to as alength directional center line, slants toward inner side of said opticalfiber holding area as making required angle θ1 with the perpendicularline of said side wall at the place.
 10. The holding equipment foroptical fiber according to claim 9, wherein all the projections formedfor at least one of said holding unit are formed slanted such that eachlength directional center line slants toward inner side of said opticalfiber holding area as making required angle θ1 to the perpendicular lineof said side wall at the place.
 11. The holding equipment for opticalfiber according to claim 9, wherein required angle θ1 is smaller than 10degree.
 12. The holding equipment for optical fiber according to claim6, wherein said projection which is placed on the side wall of at leastone holding unit is formed slanted such that a length directional centerline slants toward one direction along the fringe of the side wall asmaking required angle θ3.
 13. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 12, wherein all the projections formed on the sidewall of at least one holding unit are formed slanted such that eachlength directional center line of it slants toward one direction alongthe fringe of the side wall as making required angle θ3.
 14. The holdingequipment for optical fiber according to claim 12, wherein said requiredangle θ3 is smaller than 10 degree.
 15. The holding equipment foroptical fiber according to claim 6, wherein each of said pluralprojections is that outside tangent of outline of the projection ofradius direction of the side wall on which the projection is placed andinside tangent of outline of the projection of the radius direction ofthe side wall crosses as making required angle θ2 on the cross sectionwhich include the center point of the side wall on which the projectionis placed, the center point of the root of the projection and the endpoint of the center line of the projection, except parts having largealteration for example root around and the end point around of theprojection, and the projection is dwindling from root of it to the endpoint of it.
 16. The holding equipment for optical fiber according toclaim 6, wherein each of all the projections of at least one saidholding unit is that outside tangent of outline of the projection ofradius direction of the side wall on which the projection is placed andinside tangent of outline of the projection of the radius direction ofthe side wall crosses as making required angle θ2 on the cross sectionwhich include the center point of the side wall on which the projectionis placed, the center of the root of the projection and the tip of thecenter line of the projection, except parts having large alteration forexample root around and the end point around of the projection, and theprojection is dwindling from root of it to the end point of it.
 17. Theholding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 15, wherein therequired angle θ2 is smaller than 15 degree.
 18. The holding equipmentfor optical fiber according to claim 6, wherein dimension of the crosssection of said elastic projection of at least one holding unit is suchthat a mean diameter of the projection at the middle part in lengthdirection is 0.4˜2 mm.
 19. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 6, wherein each of all said elastic projections of atleast one said holding unit is that dimension of the cross section ofsaid elastic projection is such that a mean diameter of the projectionat the middle in length direction is 0.4˜2 mm.
 20. The holding equipmentfor optical fiber according to claim 6, wherein shape of the tip of saidelastic projection is a part of circle having diameter of 0.2˜1 mm onthe cross section of the projection including the center of the sidewall on which the projection is placed.
 21. The holding equipment foroptical fiber according to claim 6, wherein said projection is suchprojection that diameter of the tip around is smaller than diameter ofthe root around.
 22. The holding equipment for optical fiber accordingto claim 6, wherein length of at least one said elastic projection islonger than one fourth of space between a pair of side walls which areplaced in opposition each other.
 23. The holding equipment for opticalfiber according to claim 22, wherein length of at least one said elasticprojection is longer than one half of space between a pair of said sidewalls which are placed in opposition each other.
 24. The holdingequipment for optical fiber according to claim 6, wherein length of atleast one said elastic projection is shorter as 0.05˜0.15 mm than spacebetween a pair of side walls which are placed in opposition each other.25. The holding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 6,wherein at least two of said elastic projections which are placed on atleast one side wall is such pair-projection which is a pair ofprojections that space between the two projections is 0 or narrower thantwo times of mean diameter of a outer circle which touch and includetightly the projection inside of it.
 26. The holding equipment foroptical fiber according to claim 6, wherein the center position of eachprojection not forming the pair-projection and/or the center position ofeach said pair-projection are placed in equivalent pitch in thedirection along the fringe of the side wall on at least one said sidewall of at least one said holding unit.
 27. The holding equipment foroptical fiber according to claim 6, wherein all the elastic projectionsare formed only on one side wall of a pair of said side walls which areplaced in opposition each other.
 28. The holding equipment for opticalfiber according to claim 6, wherein 24 of said single projections and/orsaid pair-projections are formed on at least one side wall of at leastone holding unit.
 29. The holding equipment for optical fiber accordingto claim 28, wherein each center of two nearest neighbor projectionswhich are two nearest neighbor single projections or two nearestneighbor pair-projections or one single projection and one nearestneighbor pair-projection make the center angle of 15° against the centerof said side wall.
 30. The holding equipment for optical fiber accordingto claim 6, wherein said elastic projections are formed on both sidewalls which are placed in opposition each other, of the side wall,hereinafter, to be also referred to as the first side wall and the sidewall, hereinafter, to be also referred to as the second side wall. 31.The holding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 30, whereinat least one pair of said elastic projections which are placed on bothside walls are placed at the position which are in opposition eachother.
 32. The holding equipment for optical fiber according to claim31, wherein the sum total length of two projections which are placed inopposition each other is longer than one fourth of space between saidboth side walls.
 33. The holding equipment for optical fiber accordingto claim 31, wherein the sum total length of two projections which areplaced in opposition each other is longer than one half of space betweensaid both side walls.
 34. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 31, wherein the sum total length of two projectionswhich are placed in opposition each other is shorter as 0.05˜0.15 mmthan space between said both side walls.
 35. The holding equipment foroptical fiber according to claim 30, wherein the projection is notplaced at a position of the second side wall that is correspondingposition to a position where the projection is placed of the first sidewall, and the projection is not placed at a position of the first sidewall that is corresponding position to a position where the projectionis placed of the second side wall.
 36. The holding equipment for opticalfiber according to claim 35, wherein said elastic projections which areformed on the first side wall and the second side wall being placed inopposition each other are formed such that the projection on the firstside wall and the projection on the second side wall are placedalternately in the direction along the fringe of side wall.
 37. Theholding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 35, wherein thesum total length of two projections which are placed on the first sidewall and the second side wall is longer than one fourth of space betweensaid both side walls.
 38. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 35, wherein the sum total length of two projectionswhich are placed on the first side wall and the second side wall islonger than one half of space between said both side walls.
 39. Theholding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 35, wherein thesum total length of two projections which are placed on the first sidewall and the second side wall is shorter as 0.05˜0.15 mm than spacebetween said both side walls.
 40. The holding equipment for opticalfiber according to claim 35, wherein sum total length of two projectionswhich are one projection of one side wall and the nearest neighborprojection of the other wall is longer as 0.05˜0.24 mm than spacebetween said both side walls.
 41. The holding equipment for opticalfiber according to claim 35, wherein the center of each projection notforming the pair-projection and/or the center of each saidpair-projection are placed in equivalent pitch in the direction alongthe fringe of the side wall on one said side wall and/or on both saidside walls of at least one said holding unit.
 42. The holding equipmentfor optical fiber according to claim 35, wherein 48 of said singleprojection and/or said pair-projection are formed on one side walland/or both side wall of at least one said holding unit.
 43. The holdingequipment for optical fiber according to claim 35, wherein both of eachcenter of two projections which are two nearest neighbor singleprojections or two nearest neighbor pair-projections or one singleprojection and one nearest neighbor pair-projection makes the centerangle of 7.5° against the center of said side wall.
 44. The holdingequipment for optical fiber according to claim 6, wherein at least oneside wall of said side wall having elastic projections is a side wall,hereinafter, to be also referred to as a side wall comprisingprojections on both side, comprising plural said elastic projections onone side and the other side of the side wall.
 45. The holding equipmentfor optical fiber according to claim 6, wherein said side wall saidplural projections formed on the side wall and the core of reel areformed in one body.
 46. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 2, wherein at least one projection of saidprojections is a projection, hereinafter, to be also referred to as beltstyled projection or belt projection, which has such size that size ofthe projection measured along the fringe of the wall is lager than sizeof the projection measured toward the radius of the wall.
 47. Theholding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 46, wherein areaof cross section of root around, namely raising up place from the sidewall, of said belt styled projection is lager than area of cross sectionof end portion of it.
 48. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 46, wherein plural said belt styled projections areformed on the same side of at least one side wall.
 49. The holdingequipment for optical fiber according to claim 46, wherein number ofsaid belt styled projections which are formed on the same side of atleast one side wall is four.
 50. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 46, wherein a belt styled projection, hereinafter, tobe also referred to as projection A, and a projection which is not abelt styled projection, hereinafter, to be also referred to asprojection B, are formed on the same side of at least one side wall. 51.The holding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 2, whereinsaid core of reel is formed on one side of said side wall and also saidcore of reel is formed on the other side of the side wall.
 52. Theholding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 51, wherein sizeof said core of reel of one side of said side wall that is measuredperpendicular direction to the wall and size of said core of reel of theother side of the side wall that is measured perpendicular direction tothe wall are different.
 53. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 2, wherein at least one side wall among the side wallhaving said elastic projections is a side wall having projections onboth side of it, that is, a side wall which has plural said projectionson one side and the reverse side of the wall respectively.
 54. Theholding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 53, wherein spacebetween two projections placed on one side of at least one side wallhaving projections on both side of it and space between two projectionsplaced on the other side of the side wall are different space.
 55. Theholding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 53, wherein shapeand size of projections placed on one side of at least one side wallhaving projections on both side of it, and shape and size of projectionsplaced on the other side of the side wall are different shape and size.56. The holding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 53,wherein only projections which are not belt styled projections areplaced on one side of at least one side wall having projections on bothside of it, and at least two belt styled projections are placed on theother side of the side wall.
 57. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 56, wherein at least one side wall having projectionson both side of it has at least two belt styled projections near tofringe of the side wall.
 58. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 53, wherein projections which are not belt styledprojections are placed on one side of at least one side wall havingprojections on both side of it, and four of belt styled projections areplaced near to fringe of the other side of the side wall and, inaddition, at least two pair of said pair-projections are placed at theposition which is nearer position to core of reel than the position atwhich the belt styled projections are placed.
 59. The holding equipmentfor optical fiber according to claim 53, wherein distance from fringe ofat least one side wall which is a side wall having projections on bothside of it to the outside surface of the core of reel, that is width ofthe side wall is different at one side of that side wall and the otherside of that side wall.
 60. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 53, wherein width of side wall having belt styledprojections near to fringe of the wall which is one side of the sidewall having projections on both side of it, hereinafter, to be alsoreferred to as the second width of side wall is larger than width ofside wall having projections which are not belt styled projections nearto fringe of the wall which is the other side of the side wall havingprojections on both side of it, hereinafter, to be also referred to asthe first width of side wall.
 61. The holding equipment for opticalfiber according to claim 2, wherein said side wall has four of ditchesor slits, namely cut parts.
 62. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 61, wherein said cut part reaches to position of thecore of reel on the side wall having the projections.
 63. The holdingequipment for optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein at least onepair of said side walls and projections formed on said side wall aremade of fluorinated elastomer.
 64. The holding equipment for opticalfiber according to claim 63, wherein hardness of the fluorinatedelastomer which forms said holding equipment for optical fiber is 70˜90in Shore hardness.
 65. The holding equipment for optical fiber accordingto claim 64, wherein hardness of the fluorinated elastomer which formssaid holding equipment for optical fiber is 75˜85 in Shore hardness. 66.The holding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 63, whereinsaid fluorinated elastomer is vinylidenefluoride elastomer ortetrafluoroethylene-perfluorovinylether elastomer.
 67. The holdingequipment for optical fiber according to claim 66, wherein contents offluorine of said fluorinated elastomer is 65˜70%.
 68. The holdingequipment for optical fiber according to claim 66, wherein saidfluorinated elastomer is thermally treated for more than 1 hour at250˜400° C. on the manufacturing process.
 69. The holding equipment foroptical fiber according to claim 68, wherein said fluorinated elastomeris thermally treated for 8˜24 hours at 260˜270° C. on the manufacturingprocess.
 70. The holding equipment for optical fiber according to claim66, wherein said holding equipment for optical fiber is a holdingequipment which was post-vulcanized it 204˜260° C. after formed holdingequipment for optical fiber.
 71. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 2, wherein said core of reel, said at least one pairof side walls and projections formed on said side wall of at least oneholding unit are made of fluorinated elastomer.
 72. The holdingequipment for optical fiber according to claim 71, wherein hardness ofthe fluorinated elastomer which forms said holding equipment for opticalfiber is 70˜90 in Shore hardness.
 73. The holding equipment for opticalfiber according to claim 72, wherein hardness of the fluorinatedelastomer which forms said holding equipment for optical fiber is 75˜85in Shore hardness.
 74. The holding equipment for optical fiber accordingto claim 71, wherein said fluorinated elastomer is vinylidenefluorideelastomer or tetrafluoroethylene-perfluorovinylether elastomer.
 75. Theholding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 74, whereincontents of fluorine of said fluorinated elastomer is 65˜70%.
 76. Theholding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 74, wherein saidfluorinated elastomer is thermally treated for more than 1 hour at250-400° C. on the manufacturing process.
 77. The holding equipment foroptical fiber according to claim 76, wherein said fluorinated elastomeris thermally treated for 8˜24 hours at 260˜270° C. on the manufacturingprocess.
 78. The holding equipment for optical fiber according to claim74, wherein said holding equipment for optical fiber is a holdingequipment which was post-vulcanized at 204˜260° C. after formed holdingequipment for optical fiber.
 79. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 2, wherein said core of reel, said at least one pairof side walls and projections formed on said side wall of at least oneholding unit are made of silicone elastomer.
 80. The holding equipmentfor optical fiber according to claim 79, wherein said silicone elastomeris colored, opaque against a visible ray.
 81. The holding equipment foroptical fiber according to claim 80, wherein color of said siliconeelastomer can be used for distinction of said holding equipment foroptical fiber.
 82. The holding equipment for optical fiber according toclaim 2, wherein the holding equipment for optical fiber has at leasttwo holding unit for optical fiber of the first holding unit and thesecond holding unit, and the first holding unit has said elasticprojections on one said side wall of at least one pair of side wallswhich are placed in opposition each other or both said side wall of atleast one pair of side walls which are placed in opposition each other.83. The holding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 82,wherein the second holding unit has said elastic projections on one saidside wall of at least one pair of side walls which are placed inopposition each other or both said side wall of at least one pair ofside walls which are placed in opposition each other.
 84. The holdingequipment for optical fiber according to claim 82, wherein the secondholding unit has at least one pair of side walls which have not saidelastic projections.
 85. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 82, wherein all of the side wall, the core of reeland the elastic projections of the first holding unit and the secondholding unit are made of elastic materials.
 86. The holding equipmentfor optical fiber according to claim 82, wherein the first holding unitand the second holding unit are composed being able to be connected inone body by using unit-connection-part.
 87. The holding equipment foroptical fiber according to claim 86, wherein said unit-connection-partis a part which connect said the first holding unit and the secondholding unit in one body by inserting the part into a hole or a cavityformed on the first holding unit and into a hole or a cavity formed onthe second holding unit to hold said the first holding unit and thesecond holding unit.
 88. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 82, wherein said the first holding unit and thesecond holding unit are made of elastic material into one body by usingone-piece molding.
 89. The holding equipment for optical fiber accordingto claim 82, wherein said the first holding unit and the second holdingunit are made of different materials.
 90. The holding equipment foroptical fiber according to claim 89, wherein the materials whichconstruct the second holding unit are the materials havingcharacteristics of a rigid body as a holding unit for optical fiber. 91.The holding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 82, wherein aconnection-part by which said the first holding unit can be connectedwith said the second holding unit in a condition of removable andre-connectable is formed in one body with the second holding unit as aextended part from the second holding unit.
 93. The holding equipmentfor optical fiber according to claim 82, wherein an attaching part instyle of concave part or convex part that can combine with at least oneof the first and the second holding unit is formed as a part of theconnection-part, and a combining part which is concave part or convexpart is formed on the holding unit which is connected to the attachingpart.
 94. The holding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 82,wherein one side wall of a pair of side walls which are placed inopposition each other of the second holding unit is the back side of theside wall which is one of a pair of side walls of the first holdingunit.
 95. The holding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 82,wherein said the second holding unit has a pair of side walls which areplaced in opposition each other and different from that of the firstholding unit.
 96. The holding equipment for optical fiber according toclaim 82, wherein said holding equipment for optical fiber has the thirdholding unit for optical fiber in addition to the first holding unit andthe second holding unit.
 97. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 96, wherein the third holding unit is formed suchstructure as capable being connected with the first holding unit or thesecond holding unit into one body.
 98. The holding equipment for opticalfiber according to claim 96, wherein the third holding unit has a pairof side walls which are placed in opposition each other, and at leastone of the pair of side walls is a side wall having said projections.99. The holding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 82,wherein at least one of said side walls is a side wall formed as beingable to be fit between two side walls after formed independently of theother component being comprised in said holding equipment for opticalfiber and to construct two holding unit for optical fiber.
 100. Theholding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 82, wherein atleast one of said side walls is a side wall having said projections onits both side.
 101. The holding equipment for optical fiber according toclaim 82, wherein at least two of said optical fiber holding area ofeach of at least two of said holding unit have different depth of theholding unit respectively.
 102. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 82, wherein at least one of said side wallsconstructing boundary of said two holding unit is a side wall havingsaid ditches or slits.
 103. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 2, wherein size of projection of the fringe of saidside wall is within a circle having 10 cm in diameter.
 104. The holdingequipment for optical fiber according to claim 2, wherein thickness ofsaid holding equipment for optical fiber is thinner than 3 mm.
 105. Aholding equipment for optical fiber into which the optical fiber havinglength within 5 m can be wound; wherein the holding equipment foroptical fiber comprises optical fiber holding area, where-into theoptical fiber can be hold wound on a core of reel, comprising, at least,a core of reel having shape of its fringe of circle or ellipse orpolygon on which optical fiber can be wound, at least one pair of sidewalls placed in opposition each other, connected with said core of reelor combined to said core of reel, having shape of fringe of circle orellipse or polygon and having shape of flat board, elastic projectionswhich are formed at place near the fringe and inner of the fringe on theside wall stick out from the wall toward the opposite side wall, andhollow formed at the core of reel and the side walls.
 106. A holdingequipment for optical fiber in which the optical fiber can be held bywound; wherein the holding equipment for optical fiber is made of curedfluorinated elastomer.
 107. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 106, wherein hardness of said fluorinated elastomeris 70˜90 in Shore hardness.
 108. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 107, wherein hardness of said fluorinated elastomeris 76˜86 in Shore hardness.
 109. The holding equipment for optical fiberaccording to claim 106, wherein said fluorinated elastomer isvinylidenefluoride elastomer or tetrafluoroethylene-perfluorovinyletherelastomer.
 110. The holding equipment for optical fiber according toclaim 109, wherein said fluorinated elastomer contains 65˜70% offluorine.
 111. The holding equipment for optical fiber according toclaim 109, wherein said fluorinated elastomer is thermally treated formore than 1 hour at 250˜400° C. on the manufacturing process.
 112. Theholding equipment for optical fiber according to claim 111, wherein saidfluorinated elastomer is thermally treated for 8˜24 hours at 260˜270° C.on the manufacturing process.
 113. The holding equipment for opticalfiber according to claim 106, wherein said holding equipment is aholding equipment which was post-cured at 204˜260° C. after formedholding equipment.